“Never Say Never Again” is to the James Bond franchise what Notre Dame football is to the ACC; really part of it, but technically not so. This is very important, because Baylor and TCU were shut out of the playoff last season, and the Big 12 doesn’t have a conference championship game.
This year, if Notre Dame football finishes 11-1, but ends up behind a couple 12-1 teams in the playoff standings, and those teams played in and or won a conference title game, well you can see where this is going.
A conference title game is to your resume what a closing statement is to a trial attorney. We don’t know for sure yet how much the committee values these, but we do know that over time, if this works against the Fighting Irish, then Notre Dame football will take their friends with benefits arrangement with the ACC, and then turn it into an engaged relationship.
SPREAD: Notre Dame football +4
TV: FOX national telecast with Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analysis), Molly McGrath (sideline).
7:40 p.m. ET; Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015
* Stanford Stadium (50,424); Stanford, California
Here’s the latest college football playoff standings:
Here's an exclusive pic of Brian Kelly last night. #MandTB@bartenderradio @PaulMBanks @ToddBurlage @HondoCarpenter pic.twitter.com/mT36uA2kgS
— Jim Irizarry (@JimOnSports_) November 25, 2015
Full #CFP25 for games played through November 21 https://t.co/nzVRBrICnx pic.twitter.com/Jgzs0WxAaN
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) November 25, 2015
Notre Dame football preview:
Kirk Herbstreit said it best when we spoke to him at The Drake Hotel in Chicago:
“It’s been impressive to watch them. I don’t know how many teams can stay as consistent as they have with injury… after injury… after injury, and still win a ton of games and look good.”
Herbstreit was in town to reveal the latest playoff rankings during the Champions Classic at the United Center.
“First of all, there’s more chaos to come,” said ESPN College Football Analyst David Pollack, who was also in town for the playoff ranking meetings.
“If you’re playing great at the end of the season, and you stomp a mud hole in Stanford, and you’re playing really well, it’s all you can control.”
Here’s a link to more Notre Dame football analysis, and discussion of ND’s playoff chances with the ESPN College Gameday crew.
The injuries just keeping coming for the Irish. Now it’s Cornerback KeiVarae Russell, one of the team’s most lovable players and a NFL talent who is out 6-8 weeks with a fractured tibia. Running back C.J. Prosise is in a walking boot and day to day. Others have reported Prosise doubtful for this one. Yet the depth chart still lists him as the starter. Tells you everything you need to know about depth charts.
It’s what I’ve been saying for years. Chip Kelly even once admitted that he lets the PR flak make them.
Stanford Preview:
Running back Christian McCaffery, the offspring of Easy Ed, the former Denver Broncos wide receiver, is a finalist for several major awards. He’ll get an invite to New York for the Heisman, which will inevitably be won by someone else. Speaking of legacy devices at the tailback position, Barry Sanders’ kid is on the Cardinal too.
QB Kevin Hogan is seasoned and stellar. He’ll be looking to have a huge game in this his farewell.
Free Safety Kodi Whitfield is the best NFL prospect on the squad, but OL Joshua Garrett and Kyle Murphy are probably two of the better overall players on this Stanford football team.
Prediction: Stanford 28, ND 24
This Notre Dame football team has fought valiantly all year long in spite of all the injury setbacks. At one point, they had a fourth string tailback run for over 100 yards in a game. Teddy Roosevelt famously said “do what you can with what you have with where you are.” Brian Kelly has done all of that and much much more than could be expected.
Unfortunately though, this is where the Notre Dame football playoff dreams end.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram