Saturday, November 24, 2018

Some "Fun Facts" As We Wait for ND vs. USC

If you're watching College Gameday and hearing Desmond Howard question whether it's fair that Notre Dame may make the CFB Playoff without having to play a 13th game -- consider this:

#1 ALABAMA -- 10 wins over FBS opponents
  • Played Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State (game #2 and game #4)
  • Played "FCS school" Citadel in game #11
  • Biggest wins:  #7 LSU, #18 Mississippi State, #22 Texas A&M

#2 CLEMSON -- 10 wins over FBS opponents
  •  Played "FCS school" Furman in their opening game
  •  Has beaten TWO TEAM in the CFB Playoff Top 25 Rankings
  •  Biggest win:  #20 Syracuse and #22 Texas A&M

#3 NOTRE DAME -- 11 wins over FBS opponents
  • Played #4 Michigan in their opening game
  • Has beaten FOUR TEAM in the CFB Playoff Top 25 Rankings
  • Biggest wins:  #4 Michigan, #19 Northwestern, #20 Syracuse and #24 Pittsburgh

#4 MICHIGAN -- 10 wins over FBS opponents
  • Played #3 Notre Dame in their opening game
  • Has beaten TWO TEAMS in the CFB Playoff Top 25 Rankings
  • Biggest wins:  #12 Penn State, #19 Northwestern 

Makes you wonder why Notre Dame is only ranked "#3" -- doesn't it! 

I'm not questioning whether Alabama or Clemson deserve to be ranked ahead of Notre Dame -- they probably do, based on how impressive they have looked so far.  

What I am arguing is this statement -- "it's not fair that Notre Dame doesn't have to play a 13th game." 

We have played "big boy football" opponents every week -- Alabama and Clemson has not.
  • Alabama played 12 games in 2017 -- they played in the 2017 CFB Playoff
  • Ohio State played 12 games in 2016 -- they played in the 2016 CFB Playoff   
  • WE MUST BEAT SC TONIGHT -- or, it doesn't matter...