Notre Dame’s Statement Win at Stanford Sends a Clear Message to CFP Committee
Marcus Freeman didn’t need to raise his voice after Notre Dame’s 49-20 win at Stanford - the scoreboard did most of the talking. But the Irish head coach made sure the College Football Playoff Selection Committee heard him loud and clear anyway.
“We’ve won 10 straight games,” Freeman said postgame. “And you want the 12 best teams.
Not week one - right now. It’s hard to argue we aren’t one of those teams.”
Hard to argue indeed. After starting the season 0-2, Notre Dame has ripped off 10 straight wins - most of them by double digits - and looked every bit like a playoff-caliber team on Saturday night. They entered rivalry weekend ranked No. 9, and if the committee holds its ground in Tuesday’s penultimate rankings, the Irish are positioned to be the second-to-last at-large selection, just ahead of Alabama.
But the path to the playoff is far from clear.
Crowded at the Top
The Irish may be surging, but they’re not the only ones. No.
8 Oklahoma, No. 10 Alabama, No.
11 BYU, and No. 12 Miami all picked up wins on Saturday, keeping the pressure on Notre Dame’s playoff hopes.
If Alabama knocks off Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and BYU handles Texas Tech, the Irish could find themselves on the outside looking in - even with a strong résumé.
And then there’s Miami. The Hurricanes made their own case with a statement win at No.
22 Pittsburgh. Despite beating Notre Dame head-to-head in the season opener, Miami has trailed the Irish in every set of playoff rankings so far.
That may change.
Selection Committee chair Hunter Yurachek acknowledged Miami’s win was a factor in this week’s discussions. With both teams now viewed on the same tier, the Hurricanes could leapfrog Notre Dame in the final rankings if the committee puts more weight on that early-season result.
It all sets up a tense final week for Freeman and the Irish. They’ve done everything in their control since September - now it’s up to the committee.
Jeremiyah Love Shows Heart - and Grit
One of the biggest storylines from Saturday’s win wasn’t just the scoreboard - it was the heart shown by star running back Jeremiyah Love.
Love exited in the first quarter with what was later confirmed to be an upper-body injury. But after receiving medical clearance and making the call himself, he returned in the second half and finished with 66 yards on 14 carries - including a 2-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive, his 18th score of the season.
“I told him, you know how you feel,” Freeman said. “I know you’re hurting, but you have to make a decision about what’s best for the team. If you feel like you can go, go.”
Love chose to go. And that decision speaks volumes about who he is as a competitor.
Freeman made it clear the team wasn’t going to risk his health. The medical staff gave the green light, and Freeman left the final call to his running back - a sign of the trust Love has earned this season.
“I know he wanted to go out there and put on a Heisman Trophy-worthy performance,” Freeman added. “And we owed it to him to let him decide.”
Love has now racked up 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns this season - numbers that firmly plant him in the Heisman conversation. And while Saturday may not have been his most explosive outing statistically, it was arguably one of his most impressive from a leadership and toughness standpoint.
Freeman said the injury is believed to be rib-related, and the team will continue to evaluate him moving forward. But if Saturday night was any indication, don’t count on Love sitting out when it matters most.
What’s Next
Notre Dame has done its part: 10 straight wins, a dominant finish to the regular season, and a marquee road victory to cap it all off. The Irish are peaking at the right time - and Marcus Freeman knows it.
Now, it’s in the hands of the committee.
In a playoff race that’s as tight as ever, style points matter. So does momentum. And Notre Dame just made a strong final argument on both fronts.