As the college football season heats up, Notre Dame is grabbing headlines—not just for their wins, but for how they’re getting them. With an aggressive, sometimes risky approach, the Fighting Irish are doing everything they can to stay in the College Football Playoff (CFP) hunt.
They’re not playing it safe. Notre Dame is out to impress, and honestly, it’s kind of fun to watch.
Notre Dame’s Aggressive Playstyle: A Necessity for CFP Consideration
Take their recent game against Arkansas. Up 42-13 early in the second half, the Irish ran a fake punt on fourth-and-10 and picked up 40 yards.
Not exactly a conservative call. That play, wild as it was, shows just how much they’re chasing those elusive style points that seem to matter so much for CFP selection.
With a possible 10-2 record and no jaw-dropping wins, Notre Dame knows they need to turn heads on the scoreboard. It’s not enough to win—they have to win big.
The Importance of Style Points
Style points. They’re real, even if nobody wants to admit it. In college football, it’s not just about the W—it’s about how you get it.
Head coach Marcus Freeman gets it. Last season, after a brutal loss to Northern Illinois, the Irish bounced back and put up 45.1 points per game over their last seven wins.
That offensive surge probably saved their playoff hopes, even with the earlier stumble.
Challenges Ahead: A Tough Schedule and Unpredictable Outcomes
Notre Dame’s road to the CFP is anything but easy. Their remaining schedule doesn’t feature many ranked teams, so the Irish really have to dominate to stay relevant.
Recent losses by NC State, USC, and Boston College have only made things tougher. The pressure is on to win, and win big, every single week.
Key Games to Watch
So, which games matter most for Notre Dame now?
- Miami at Florida State: If Miami keeps rolling, this one could shift the playoff picture for the Irish.
- Boise State at Notre Dame: No way around it—Notre Dame has to look great here.
- Virginia at Louisville: This one could affect how strong Notre Dame’s schedule looks on paper.
Oregon’s Playoff Prospects: A Different Story
Meanwhile, Oregon is taking a different approach. Their overtime win against Penn State was a heart-stopper, but it did wonders for their playoff resume.
Honestly, with a relatively smooth road ahead, Oregon fans might want to start thinking about December travel plans.
Oregon’s Key Wins and Remaining Schedule
That Penn State win was huge, but Oregon isn’t out of the woods yet.
- Indiana: Could be tricky, but it’s hard to see Oregon stumbling here.
- Ohio State: This is the big one. It could decide if Oregon goes 11-1 or 10-2.
Unless something wild happens, an 11-2 Oregon with a win over Penn State and losses to Ohio State and Indiana probably still gets in the CFP.
Penn State and the Big Ten: Narrowing Paths
Penn State’s loss to Oregon stung, but it didn’t knock them out of the playoff race. Still, their margin for error is just about gone.
They’ve got Ohio State and Indiana coming up. Lose to Ohio State, and suddenly every other game becomes a must-win.
Big Ten’s Playoff Landscape
The Big Ten is still a brawl, with Ohio State and Indiana hanging around the playoff picture. For Penn State, though, it’s win or go home from here on out.
The ACC’s Struggles and Virginia’s Unexpected Run
The ACC can’t catch a break this year—just 5-12 against other Power Four leagues in nonconference play. But then Virginia shocked Florida State, giving the conference a little hope.
Is Virginia a real playoff threat? Probably not, but with a schedule full of ACC teams, who knows?
Virginia’s Key Challenges
Virginia’s got four more road games. That’s a tall order for anyone, let alone a team with playoff dreams.
They’ll need to be nearly perfect to keep the conversation alive.
SEC Surprises: Ole Miss, Missouri, and Vanderbilt
The SEC has been weirdly unpredictable. Ole Miss, Missouri, and Vanderbilt all started 5-0, but only Ole Miss is 3-0 in conference play.
That win over LSU helped, but with Georgia and Oklahoma looming, it’s about to get real for Ole Miss.
Ole Miss’s Path to the Playoff
Even with the hot start, it’s tough to know just how good Ole Miss really is. Squeaking past Kentucky, Arkansas, and LSU doesn’t exactly silence the doubters.
The next two games—Georgia and Oklahoma—will tell us everything.
Big 12 Contenders: Arizona State’s Close Calls
Arizona State, last year’s Big 12 champ, is still in the mix. Their comeback win over TCU showed a lot of guts.
Honestly, if TCU had pulled it off, the Big 12 playoff picture would look pretty different right now.
Big 12’s Unbeaten Teams
The Big 12 still has some unbeatens—think Iowa State, BYU, Houston, Texas Tech. How they perform in the next few weeks will shape the playoff race for the whole conference.
The college football season’s really heating up now. Teams like Notre Dame, Oregon, and Ole Miss are still in the hunt for those playoff spots.
Every game matters more than ever. If you’re looking for a deeper dive into the playoff picture, you might want to check out the full article on CBS Sports.
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