The AP Top 25 / Analysis of Schedule Strength

Here's a look at the AP Top 25 -- see below -- and how many games each of these teams will play this season against the current ranked teams.

Bottom Line:  The University of Notre Dame has the most difficult path to the College Football Playoff -- and it's not even close...

1. Alabama:  1 game 
2. Clemson:  3 games 
3. Penn State:  3 games
4. Georgia:  2 games
5. Washington:  2 games
6. Texas Christian University:  3 games
7. Wisconsin:  1 game
8. Washington State:  3 games
9. Ohio State:  4 games
10. Auburn:  3 games
11. Miami:  2 games
12. Oklahoma:  4 games
13. University of Southern California:  3 games
14. Oklahoma State:  2 games
15. Virginia Tech:  2 games
16. NOTRE DAME:  7 GAMES
17. Michigan:  3 games
18. South Florida:  1 game
19. San Diego State:  1 game
20. North Carolina State:  2 games
21. Michigan State:  4 games
22. University of Central Florida:  2 games
23. Stanford University:  5 games
24. Texas Tech:  3 games
25. Naval Academy:  2 games

Tar Heels' Fedora Talks Loss to Notre Dame

One Loss Teams Ranked Ahead of Notre Dame

Here's a look at the EIGHT one-loss teams ranked ahead of Notre Dame in the AP POLL -- this morning.  Looking forward to seeing where Notre Dame will be ranked when the AP Poll comes out this afternoon...


#3:  OKLAHOMA: 4 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records; Ohio State and Tulane
• Loss at home to Iowa State (38 - 31)
• Road wins:  Ohio State and Baylor
• Opponents' record so far:  11 - 16

# 7:  MICHIGAN:  4 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Florida and Purdue
• Loss at home to Michigan State (14 - 10)
• Road wins:  Florida (neutral site) and Purdue
• Opponents' record so far: 13 - 13
• Common opponent with ND:  Loss to Michigan State 14 - 10

#10:  OHIO STATE:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Indiana, Army and Maryland
• Loss at home to Oklahoma (31 - 16)
• Road wins: Indiana and Rutgers
• Opponents' record so far: 16 - 10

#12:  AUBURN:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Mississippi State
• Loss at Clemson  (14 - 6)
• Road wins:  Missouri
• Opponents' record so far: 15 - 16

#14:  USC:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Western Michigan, Stanford, Texas, 
• Loss at Washington State  (30 - 27)
• Road wins:  California
• Opponents' record so far: 21 - 14

#15:  OKLAHOMA STATE:  4 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Texas Tech
• Loss at home to Texas Christian University (44 - 31)
• Road wins:  South Alabama and Pittsburgh
• Opponents' record so far:  13 - 14    

#16:  VIRGINIA TECH:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  West Virginia and Delaware
• Loss at Clemson  (31 - 17)
• Road wins:  East Carolina and Boston College
• Opponents' record so far:  17 - 14
• Common opponent with ND:  Beat BC on road 23 - 10

#20:  UTAH:  4 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Arizona
• Loss at home to Stanford  (23 - 20)
• Road wins:  BYU
• Opponents' record far:  11 - 19 

#21:  NOTRE DAME:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Michigan State
• Loss at home to Georgia  (20 - 19)
• Road wins:  Boston College, Michigan State and North Carolina
• Opponents' record so far:  18 - 17 

Notre Dame's future opponents are 27 - 6, has to be the toughest remaining schedule in college football.

Highlights: Notre Dame 33 - UNC 10

We're 5 - 1 With a Very Difficult Schedule Ahead

Here's what the remaining six games look like -- these teams are a combined 27 - 6 as of this very moment.  Has to be the most difficult remaining schedule in college football:

• October 21:  University of Southern California -- ranked #14 / 5-1
• October 28:  North Carolina State -- ranked #24 / 5-1
• November 4:  Wake Forest -- not ranked / 4-2
• November 11:  @ Miami (FL) -- #13 / 4-0
• November 18: Navy -- not ranked / 5-0
• November 25: @ Stanford -- not ranked / 3-2

Win out and we're playing in the College Football Playoff!

Brian Kelly Talks About Another Big Road Win

Fr. Jenkins' Statement on the HHS Mandate

Notre Dame president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. -- released this statement concerning the Trump Administration's decision to roll back the birth control mandate.  The University had joined a lawsuit back in 2013 seeking relief from this federal mandate.

LINK:  JENKINS' STATEMENT

LINK:  U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS

Notre Dame's Snead Reappointed by Pope

Carter Snead, the William P. and Hazel B. White Director for Notre Dame's Center for Ethics and Culture was just reappointed this week by Pope Francis as a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life...

LINK:  STORY

The Irish Beat #5 Ranked Clemson Last Night!

Will Ian Book Get His First Start at Notre Dame?

We saw glimpses of this young man's talent in the Blue-Gold Game -- will we see him leading the Irish today?

If You're Going to ND's Game Against Miami FL

Be sure to sign-up and attend one or more of these Notre Dame Club of Miami events -- should be great fun!

Go to this website for all of the details:  ND VISITS MIAMI

THURSDAY -- November 9th

• Hesburgh Lecture

FRIDAY -- November 10th

• 3rd Annual Golf Classic and Reception
• Beach Clean-up Service Project
• Private Dinner at Joe's Stone Crab
• Notre Dame Social Hour and PEP RALLY

SATURDAY -- November 11th 

• Yoga at Sunrise
• Game Day Transportation from Miami Beach to Stadium
• Pre-Game Official Tailgate Party
• ND vs. MIAMI football game

ND's Anders Bjork Scores First NHL Point!

.@JDebrusk's first NHL goal 🔥🙌 pic.twitter.com/46rpY3rJbc

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 6, 2017

In his first NHL game -- former Notre Dame All-American Anders Bjork (#10) scores his first NHL point for the Boston Bruins on an assist on this goal by Jake DeBrusk --who scored his first NHL goal!

Brian Kelly's Final Presser Before UNC Game

Notre Dame Athletics' Team National Rankings

Took a lap around the "ranking landscape" to see where Notre Dame's athletic teams are ranked;

#5:  Women's Basketball
#7:  Men's Soccer
#8:  Hockey
#13:  Women's Soccer
#14:  Men's Basketball
#17:  Men's Swimming
#21:  Football
#25:  Women's Swimming
#26:  Women's Volleyball

The Fighting Irish Getting Ready for Tar Heels

Tar Heels' Fedora Talks Notre Dame Game

Only 17 Undefeated FBS Teams Remain...

Here's the list of the 17 FBS teams that remain undefeated...

LINK:  THE UNDEFEATED

Coach Kelly Talks Tar Heels & Wimbush Injury

Mike Brey's Season Opening Media Session

Notre Dame Moves Up to #21 in AP Media Poll

Last week, 16 AP voters did not have Notre Dame in their top 25.

This week, every voter had the Fighting Irish ranked...

What didn't make sense to me was a few "moved Notre Dame down" -- after yesterday's convincing win over Miami of Ohio.

LINK:  WHO RANKED ND -- WHERE