Notre Dame’s path to the College Football Playoff is more complicated than ever. Back-to-back losses to Miami and Texas A&M have left the Irish at 0–2 and hanging by a thread. But on The Joel Klatt Show, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt reminded fans that the season isn’t over yet.
“Are they done? … The answer is no,” Klatt said. “That was two last-minute losses to what we believe … will continue to be really good teams.”
Both Miami and Texas A&M look like legitimate top-10 programs, with Klatt suggesting they could finish inside the top five. That context matters. Losing on the road to Miami and by one point in College Station is different than losing to unranked opponents.
But Notre Dame no longer controls its destiny. “Nine and three with those losses and what’s left on the schedule is not going to get them in,” Klatt said. “They do have to run the table. They’re going to have to run out 10 straight victories.”
That win-out scenario is daunting, but not impossible. Notre Dame’s remaining schedule includes potential résumé boosters against USC and NC State.
“You need those two teams to be quality opponents so that if and when Notre Dame can beat those teams … those can be looked upon as quality wins,” Klatt explained.
The challenge is that Notre Dame doesn’t have marquee SEC or Big Ten opponents left on the schedule. Their best chance is to root for others.
If Miami wins the ACC and A&M competes for the SEC title, those early losses will look less damaging. If USC and NC State climb higher in the rankings, wins over them could give Notre Dame’s playoff résumé the credibility it needs.
Statistically, the Irish have shown they can score enough to compete.
They’re averaging 32 points per game and moving the ball well under freshman QB CJ Carr. But their defense — with just one sack and one forced turnover through two games — has been their undoing.
Until Marcus Freeman’s team finds balance, the idea of running the table feels like a tall order.
Klatt summed it up: “Not done, but zero margin for error … and you’re kind of rooting for some other teams along the way to enhance the résumé.”
Notre Dame fans can take solace in the fact that the season isn’t officially over. But the Irish are out of mulligans. One more loss, and the playoff door slams shut.