Schedules of Teams Ahead of ND in Polls

[mokpra37]

OSU - at Rutgers, Minny, at Illinois. Those should all be wins. MSU at home and Michigan away. They could lose one of those. Even so, I think they win their side of the conference and play Iowa for the title. Three tougher games to end the season.

Baylor - Iowa St., at KState, Oklahoma, at Okla. St, at TCU, Texas. Two easier games to start and then four tough ones to finish.

Utah - at USC, Oregon St, at Washington, at Arizona, UCLA, Colorado, Possible PAC Championship game (probably Stanford) - 2 easier games and 4 tougher games, plus PAC Championship.

TCU - W. Virginia, @Oklahoma St, Kansas, @ Oklahoma, Baylor - Two easier games and three tougher games.

LSU - W. Kentucky, @ Alabama, Arkansas, @ Ole Miss, Texas A&M - One easy game and four tough games.

Clemson - @ Miami, @ NCState, FSU, @Syracuse, Wake, @S. Carolina - Three easier games and three tougher games.

Mich. St. - Indiana, @Nebraska, Maryland, @OSU, PSU - three easier games and two tougher games.

Alabama - Tenn, LSU, at Miss St., Charleston Southern, @ AUburn - one PATHETIC game, and four tougher games.

FSU - @ Georgia Tech, Syracuse, @ Clemson, NC St., Chattanooga, @ Florida - one PATHETIC game, three easier games and two tougher games.

Stanford - Washington, @ Wash St., @ Colorado, Oregon, Cal, ND - 3 easier games and 3 tougher games.

 

[mokpra37]

Blowout losses will also drop some of these teams further than a close loss. There are lots of opportunities for that to happen.

 

[justacollegefan]

I recall people commenting about rankings and teams before Clemson as well.... maybe you should worry about our own games and not about others because we don't have an easy path. Temple, Pitt, BC, and Stanford will be tough games and all are on the road.

 

[HDK]

Doesn't Boston College technically count as a home game? And who in the hell came up with the bright idea of having us play a Shamrock Series game in Boston against BC and us wearing green uniforms? Like waving a red cape in front of a bull.

 

[mokpra37]

Not worried at all collegefan. Just providing some info. Chill.

 

[ThunderStorm21]

I'm still nervous for the rest of our games. I've been a Notre Dame fan too long to trust any give me games. Clearly the best chance for us to make the playoffs is that we win out and Stanford wins the pac 12. Also Clemson needs to lose at least one. There is so many scenarios! Definitely makes for some interesting speculation.

 

[ZORO50]

Most teams ahead of us play each other and I think most teams if not all teams ahead of us will lose outright.
We have a great chance to head
to Stanford in a meeting of
11-1 teams. I'm rooting for Stanford to demolish everyone before our game.
That gets us into the playoff if
Brian Kelly can politic like Urban Meyer
did last year, which he can.
The ratings would be too good to keep us out and the team will have earned it.
We can't look past Pitt, Temple.
We will rock Wake and BC's offense seems awful.
Let's do this!

 

[naysayers stop nonsense]

It's fun just being in the discussion - just like last yr pre injuries .

One day at a time -- last year taught me that .

As coach kelly said three weeks ago our margin for error both on the field and re injuries is really small now

Stay healthy and let the chips fall where they may

 

[Telx1]

Mokpra...thanks. Found the info interesting. Tend to disagree on the number of tough games you reference, but agree with the overarching premise that all these teams could lose one or more games between now and the end of the season. Even so, if the champs of the five major conferences each have one loss or less, ND will be hard pressed to make the playoffs. Our best chance is to win out and hope Stanford wins the PAC.

 

[stu4don]

Best scenario is OSU and Bama win out (they won't let a one-loss MSU team in) then Clemson/Fla State stumble and then the one who stumbles beats the other (go Miami!), Utah loses (go Trojans)... and we win out beating a 5th ranked Stanford to eliminate any '93 talk re: a one-loss Clemson? (B12 is too complicated right now, let one of their guys in.)

 

[perseverare]

LSU is the key. Unless Bama or LSU have 2 losses, there is no way the committee picks ND ahead of either.

 

[BigFellaFan]

Some of those schedules are pathetic, especially OSU and FSU. ND with one loss will be in, they just need to win out as the SOS looks good, far better than most.

 

[no1e]

Some of those schedules are pathetic, especially OSU and FSU. ND with one loss will be in, they just need to win out as the SOS looks good, far better than most.

Lol.

 

[mokpra37]

I think you are onto something Zoro. An ND that has one two point loss to an undefeated or one loss Clemson, beats a two loss Stanford, a respectable USC, and doesn't have any subdivision fluff in its resume could very well be the first or second one loss team in the playoff, depending on who the others are.

Lots more football to be played.

 

[NDCap]

Here is my take on it.
IF OSU beats MSU and Michigan @ home beats OSU ( could happen) Michigan wins the conference . They then have to beat an undefeated Iowa team. No way Mich with 2 losses gets a playoff pick+ BIGTen is out .
SEC gets one . Automatic. I say Bama.
ND needs Clemson to win out . That is now 2 playoff teams.
Baylor wins out tough though.
Stanford wins the Pac 10 and beats Utah in PAC championship game. and ND beats them ? How does the committee pick Stanford over ND?
Baylor Clemson Bama ND
Baylor vs ND
Clemson vs. Bama

 

[mokpra37]

Games that could help the Irish this weekend:

Indiana @ MSU - I know, but they almost beat OSU, and MSU is bound to be drained after the emotional finish last week.
FSU @ Georgia Tech - If the Georgia Tech that was suppose to show up indeed does, you never know.
Utah @ USC -
Tenn. @ Bama - Not much chance, but it is a rivalry game.

If two of the dogs could win, it would be a great help to the Irish. Any one of the favorites that fails to win will fall behind the Irish.

 

[cgvr]

OSU - at Rutgers, Minny, at Illinois. Those should all be wins. MSU at home and Michigan away. They could lose one of those. Even so, I think they win their side of the conference and play Iowa for the title. Three tougher games to end the season.

Baylor - Iowa St., at KState, Oklahoma, at Okla. St, at TCU, Texas. Two easier games to start and then four tough ones to finish.

Utah - at USC, Oregon St, at Washington, at Arizona, UCLA, Colorado, Possible PAC Championship game (probably Stanford) - 2 easier games and 4 tougher games, plus PAC Championship.

TCU - W. Virginia, @Oklahoma St, Kansas, @ Oklahoma, Baylor - Two easier games and three tougher games.

LSU - W. Kentucky, @ Alabama, Arkansas, @ Ole Miss, Texas A&M - One easy game and four tough games.

Clemson - @ Miami, @ NCState, FSU, @Syracuse, Wake, @S. Carolina - Three easier games and three tougher games.

Mich. St. - Indiana, @Nebraska, Maryland, @OSU, PSU - three easier games and two tougher games.

Alabama - Tenn, LSU, at Miss St., Charleston Southern, @ AUburn - one PATHETIC game, and four tougher games.

FSU - @ Georgia Tech, Syracuse, @ Clemson, NC St., Chattanooga, @ Florida - one PATHETIC game, three easier games and two tougher games.

Stanford - Washington, @ Wash St., @ Colorado, Oregon, Cal, ND - 3 easier games and 3 tougher games.

Thank you. Well done.....
......problems for us are ga tech, texas, va.....sucking wind.....
lot's of ball to play, lot's to tighten up......we need help and style points....

 

[mokpra37]

I posted this information before the games Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Here is an update with the teams that fell behind ND removed from the list.

OSU - Minny, at Illinois. Those should be wins. MSU at home and Michigan away. They could lose one of those. Even so, I think they win their side of the conference and play Iowa for the title. Three tougher games to end the season.

Baylor - at KState, Oklahoma, at Okla. St, at TCU, Texas. May have lost their QB for the year.

TCU - W. Virginia, @Oklahoma St, Kansas, @ Oklahoma, Baylor

LSU - @ Alabama, Arkansas, @ Ole Miss, Texas A&M - LSU could lose any or all of these.

Clemson - @ NCState, FSU, @Syracuse, Wake, @S. Carolina - Hands Miami worse loss in school's history.

Mich. St. - @Nebraska, Maryland, @OSU, PSU - Their O-line looks really bad.

Alabama - LSU, at Miss St., Charleston Southern, @ AUburn

Stanford - @ Wash St., @ Colorado, Oregon, Cal, ND - 3 easier games and 3 tougher games.

That is all boys and girls. Only eight teams are now ahead of ND in the polls. To put that in context, OSU was 11 or 12 in the polls this time last year.

Baylor, OSU, LSU, MSU and Alabama have this week off. Stanford is at Wash St. and Clemson is at NCState. TCU plays West Virginia on the 29th. The Irish are at Temple. Don't see any of the favorites getting beat, but then again...

 

[kellys heroes 35]

OSU - Mich St ND jumps loser goes to #7
Baylor - TCU - ND jumps loser goes to # 6
Bama beats LSU ND jumps to #5


Any of the above mentioned winners losing another game or losing in the conference championship game puts ND in the playoffs .

 

[cgvr]

I posted this information before the games Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Here is an update with the teams that fell behind ND removed from the list.

OSU - Minny, at Illinois. Those should be wins. MSU at home and Michigan away. They could lose one of those. Even so, I think they win their side of the conference and play Iowa for the title. Three tougher games to end the season.

Baylor - at KState, Oklahoma, at Okla. St, at TCU, Texas. May have lost their QB for the year.

TCU - W. Virginia, @Oklahoma St, Kansas, @ Oklahoma, Baylor

LSU - @ Alabama, Arkansas, @ Ole Miss, Texas A&M - LSU could lose any or all of these.

Clemson - @ NCState, FSU, @Syracuse, Wake, @S. Carolina - Hands Miami worse loss in school's history.

Mich. St. - @Nebraska, Maryland, @OSU, PSU - Their O-line looks really bad.

Alabama - LSU, at Miss St., Charleston Southern, @ AUburn

Stanford - @ Wash St., @ Colorado, Oregon, Cal, ND - 3 easier games and 3 tougher games.

That is all boys and girls. Only eight teams are now ahead of ND in the polls. To put that in context, OSU was 11 or 12 in the polls this time last year.

Baylor, OSU, LSU, MSU and Alabama have this week off. Stanford is at Wash St. and Clemson is at NCState. TCU plays West Virginia on the 29th. The Irish are at Temple. Don't see any of the favorites getting beat, but then again...

Thanks for this update.
Let's hope the chaos continues for all but Stanford...

 

[mokpra37]

Kellys Heroes,

It is hard to see either Baylor, especially now with the qb injury, or TCU going unbeaten. They both have games with Oklahoma and Oklahoma St. left and a game with each other. TCU also has West Virginia. Baylor has an improving Texas.

 

[mokpra37]

Update for games week of Saturday Nov. 7th

OSU - Minny, at Illinois. Those should be wins. MSU at home and Michigan away.

Baylor - at KState, Oklahoma, at Okla. St, at TCU, Texas.

TCU - @Oklahoma St, Kansas, @ Oklahoma, Baylor

LSU - @ Alabama, Arkansas, @ Ole Miss, Texas A&M - LSU could lose any or all of these.

Clemson - FSU, @Syracuse, Wake, @S. Carolina - Hands Miami worse loss in school's history.

Mich. St. - @Nebraska, Maryland, @OSU, PSU - Their O-line looks really bad.

Alabama - LSU, at Miss St., Charleston Southern, @ AUburn

Stanford - @ Colorado, Oregon, Cal, ND

OSU hosts Minn. - After Minny's tough loss last week, OSU should walk.
Baylor is @ K State Nov. 5th. Freshman qb starting for Baylor.
LSU @ Bama is the big one. A win by LSU drops Alabama out of playoff contention. A blowout loss by LSU probably puts LSU behind ND. A close loss by LSU and they probably stay ahead of ND.
Clemson is @ FSU. I just don't see Clemson losing a game. If they should, who knows what will happen. Certainly an FSU that lost to Georgia Tech, a team ND beat handily, wouldn't move ahead of ND.
MSU @ Nebraska. Nebraska can score and can't play defense.
Stanford @ Colorado.

Bottom Line - I get to possibly do this again after the playoff committee meets this week.

 

[Golden Domer93]

Oklahoma State can sneak up on everyone

 

[Pennick4]

The Big 12 sucks. It is basketball in pads. No way their champ gets in with 1 loss.

 

[mokpra37]

I agree. The lack of defense is inexcusable. They are about to go through a four week stretch where they should give each other at least one loss. It would help if K State can get Baylor.

 

[Shakin' Down the Thunder]

The Big 12 sucks. It is basketball in pads. No way their champ gets in with 1 loss.

While I agree the big 12 sucks, it seems more and more likely one if them will finish undefeated. Probably TCU. Can't see the Irish getting over an undefeated big 12 team with one loss.

 

[Nocalirish]

While I agree the big 12 sucks, it seems more and more likely one if them will finish undefeated. Probably TCU. Can't see the Irish getting over an undefeated big 12 team with one loss.

All four top Big 12 teams still have to play each other. The likelyhood of an undefeated team is nearly impossible.

 

[mokpra37]

Update for games on Saturday Nov. 7th

OSU - Minny at home. Hard to imagine Minny winning this one.

Baylor - at KState. That was a win, but not nearly as dominate with Freshman qb.

TCU - @Oklahoma St. This 3:30 game should eliminate someone.

LSU - @ Alabama. Hoping for a blowout either way or a close defeat to Alabama. Last team to beat LSU? The Irish.

Clemson - FSU. Clemson winning out makes ND look better. If they are going to get beat, get blown out. ND win over Georgia Tech with FSU loss to Georgia Tech keeps ND ahead of FSU in that case.

Mich. St. - @Nebraska. Spartans are not great. Nebraska is bad.

Alabama - LSU.

Stanford - @ Colorado. Stanford should win easily.


Bottom Line - Win and hope for anything but a close LSU loss.

 

[SALittleGiant513]

Kellys Heroes,

It is hard to see either Baylor, especially now with the qb injury, or TCU going unbeaten. They both have games with Oklahoma and Oklahoma St. left and a game with each other. TCU also has West Virginia. Baylor has an improving Texas.

Improving texas? That remains to be seen.

 

[Nocalirish]

It is simple. ND wins out and they are in.

 

[Irishjohn68]

It is simple. ND wins out and they are in.

That's what I've been saying. Hell if ND wins Sat, then they should be top 4 with Bama and LSU playing with each other.

 

[NIN Irish]

I don't believe the committee will send an undefeated Baylor ahead of a one loss ND. The message would then be its ok to schedule lousy teams out of conference. Don't see it happening.

 

[mokpra37]

Update for games on Saturday Nov. 14th

OSU - Illinois - Just when you thought OSU's SOS couldn't get any worse...

Baylor - Oklahoma at home. Freshman qb played ok against Kansas St. Baylor still has games at OK St and at TCU. Don't see them winning either road game. If they beat Oklahoma, that would end the crazy "a one loss Oklahoma is better than a one loss ND" talk (see Texas).

Oklahoma St. - @ Iowa St. Tougher game than you might think. Iowa St. knocked Oklahoma St. out of it in 2011.

LSU - Out unless there are major upsets or Alabama takes a second loss.

Clemson - @ Syracuse

Alabama - @ Mississippi St. Might be the toughest game bama has left.

Stanford - Oregon at home.

Iowa - home against Minny. Iowa is another BIG team with a terrible SOS.

Bottom Line - Win out. ND's SOS now at 16, was 19 last week. The Big 12 has started to beat its unbeatens. Clemson, Navy, USC and Temple continue to win. Stanford continues to win up to ND.

 

[mokpra37]

Unbelievable that Iowa, with the schedule they have played, is ranked 5th. Let's hope Minny or Nebraska put an end to that nonsense.

 

[IowaIrish1]

Iowa is of no concern to ND. Iowa being 5 means nothing to anyone. They have only 2 options, lose and out or win out and they are in the playoff. That knocks OSU out. They only teams ND fans need to worry about are ND and the Big 12.

 

[NDEwing18]

Iowa is of no concern to ND. Iowa being 5 means nothing to anyone. They have only 2 options, lose and out or win out and they are in the playoff. That knocks OSU out. They only teams ND fans need to worry about are ND and the Big 12.

This is correct. I'll be thrilled if the Big 10 beats up on each other, but ND really needs the Big 12 unbeaten teams to knock each other out.

 

[lyonhawk]

While I think the Big 12 is the obvious place for us to get our spot with only 2 undefeated teams left now and a lot of football to be played against each other, the B1G eliminating itself would also make life a lot easier. At this point, that only takes an OSU loss to either Mich or MSU and then an Iowa loss in the championship game (or Minny/Nebraska). I also think NC beating Clemson is fine for us as well as they would basically eliminate the ACC opening another spot for us. A Clemson loss is questionable because it does weaken our loss a bit, but it probably eliminates another team in front of us. A 2 pt win for them over us at home in adverse conditions is probably not enough to overcome the rest of the resume at this point.

 

[Nailsbulls]

LSU is the key. Unless Bama or LSU have 2 losses, there is no way the committee picks ND ahead of either.

Wrong - Bama this year is not as good as 2012 and they stomped LSU...stick a fork in LSU.