NCAAF · 10 months ago

Ranking Notre Dame’s Potential Opponents For CFP 1st Round

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

8. UNLV Rebels
The Fighting Irish's most favorable opponent would be the UNLV Rebels. UNLV is solid against the run, but they do not have the horses to slow down Notre Dame’s rushing attack. In addition, no singular talent like Cam Skattebo or Ashton Jeanty would help UNLV condense the game and grind out the clock. If UNLV upsets Boise State on Friday night, the Rebels will be the 12-seed.

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1. SMU Mustangs
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are projected to earn a good seed in the College Football Playoff and will host a home playoff game. Results in the championship games could move seedings, and multiple opponents could be matched with the Irish. If Clemson beats SMU for the ACC Championship, the Mustangs need an at-large spot to enter the field. They could slide entirely out of the field and drop to the bottom of the bracket. This appears to be the hardest potential first-round opponent for Notre Dame. SMU is 11-1 and has been red-hot on offense since switching to Kevin Jennings at quarterback. The Mustangs are a well-balanced team that could cause the Irish secondary problems with a good passing attack and a defense that could stand up against the run.

ACC Championship Game: SMU (-2.5) vs. Clemson

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2. Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are currently the ten-seed, and Notre Dame could slide to the seven-seed with losses by Oregon and Texas in the Big Ten and SEC Championship Games. That could set up an in-state matchup between the Hoosiers and the Irish. Notre Dame’s defensive line could give IU problems, but the Hoosiers have some strengths that would be headaches for Notre Dame. IU is first in the country in rushing yards per game allowed, so they could make Notre Dame’s vaunted rushing attack work. In addition, IU has a solid passing attack and a veteran quarterback who would be able to test Notre Dame’s secondary.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
If SMU beats Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, there would be one at-large spot up for grabs, and the Selection Committee made it clear that the pick would be the Alabama Crimson Tide. In that scenario, the Tide would be the 11-seed and could end up in South Bend for a date with the Irish. Alabama has a lot of talent, which makes it a tougher matchup than some. Still, let’s be clear: the Crimson Tide does not match up well with Notre Dame. Notre Dame’s defense can be had through the air, but Jalen Milroe is an ineffective (at best) passer. Alabama has more top-end talent than any of Notre Dame’s potential first-round matchups, but there are worse opponents for the Irish to draw.
4. Arizona State Sun Devils
SMU and Boise State wins would lock the Big 12 Champion into either the 11 or 12 seed. Arizona State is a slight favorite over Iowa State, and the Sun Devils would be an interesting matchup for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Obviously, the weather in South Bend could be a shock to the system for Arizona State, but they do have a terrific running back and could try to control the tempo to shrink the game against the more talented Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Big 12 Championship Game: Arizona State (-1.5) vs. Iowa State
5. Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers square off with the SMU Mustangs in the ACC Championship Game, and they need a win to make it to the College Football Playoff. Clemson could get a draw as the fourth seed if UNLV beats Boise State, or they could be the 12 seed if the Broncos beat the Rebels. Clemson just isn’t healthy enough on offense to challenge Notre Dame. The Tigers are banged up on the offensive line, and running back Phil Mafah is not himself. In addition, Clemson has not been able to scale their performances against better competition this season. They’ll need to find something they haven’t had all season just to beat SMU this Saturday night.
6. Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones emerged from the tiebreaker chaos in the Big 12 as the second participant in the Big 12 Championship Game. Depending on other results, they need a win over Arizona State to make the field and could end up the three, four, or 12 seed. Notre Dame would likely be thrilled if they hosted the Cyclones in South Bend. Iowa State does not have the base-level talent to threaten Notre Dame, and they are below 80th against the run, something the Irish could exploit.
7. Boise State Broncos
The Boise State Broncos will probably not slide into a matchup with Notre Dame. Still, it could be possible if the Big 12 Championship is a lopsided win for Arizona State and Boise State squeaked out a victory over UNLV or an injury that necessitated a drop in seeding. If Notre Dame hosts the Broncos, Boise State would have a whale of a time figuring out how to slow down the Irish rushing attack, and they don’t have a passing attack that could take advantage of the ND's secondary.

Mountain West Championship Game: Boise State (-4.5) vs. UNLV
8. UNLV Rebels
The Fighting Irish's most favorable opponent would be the UNLV Rebels. UNLV is solid against the run, but they do not have the horses to slow down Notre Dame’s rushing attack. In addition, no singular talent like Cam Skattebo or Ashton Jeanty would help UNLV condense the game and grind out the clock. If UNLV upsets Boise State on Friday night, the Rebels will be the 12-seed.

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1. SMU Mustangs
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are projected to earn a good seed in the College Football Playoff and will host a home playoff game. Results in the championship games could move seedings, and multiple opponents could be matched with the Irish. If Clemson beats SMU for the ACC Championship, the Mustangs need an at-large spot to enter the field. They could slide entirely out of the field and drop to the bottom of the bracket. This appears to be the hardest potential first-round opponent for Notre Dame. SMU is 11-1 and has been red-hot on offense since switching to Kevin Jennings at quarterback. The Mustangs are a well-balanced team that could cause the Irish secondary problems with a good passing attack and a defense that could stand up against the run.

ACC Championship Game: SMU (-2.5) vs. Clemson

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Ranking Notre Dame’s Potential Opponents For CFP 1st Round

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