Notre Dame held its ground in a wild AP Top 25 shakeup, staying at No. 3 even as the rankings around it got tossed around.
Texas and Georgia kept the top two spots, and the Irish stayed right behind them after their 27-10 win over Michigan State. Notre Dame did lose the one first-place vote it had picked up a week earlier, but the bigger story was what happened just below. Ole Miss surged from No. 8 to No. 4 after surviving LSU and former head coach Lane Kiffin, a jump that showed just how close the Irish were to getting nudged down if voters had wanted to make a bigger statement.
Indiana and Miami each slipped one spot despite remaining undefeated, with the Hoosiers now at No. 5 and the Hurricanes at No. 6. Ohio State also moved back a spot to seventh after rebounding from its loss to Texas.
For Notre Dame, the movement that matters most may be a little farther down the board. BYU climbed into the Top 10 at No. 9 after its third straight win, setting up a major matchup next week against Iowa State. If BYU and Miami both stay unbeaten until they meet Notre Dame, the Irish would have at least two games against Top 10 teams on their schedule.
That matters in a hurry when the schedule criticism starts flying. If Notre Dame can beat both teams, it would go a long way toward strengthening its resume.
There’s also a new wrinkle after SMU’s loss to Louisville. The Mustangs dropped six spots, putting them in danger of falling out of the AP Top 25 entirely, which would leave Notre Dame with one fewer ranked opponent on the schedule.
In Other News...
Former Boston College QB Phil Jurkovec Is Back In The News Again
Phil Jurkovecs football path has already taken enough twists to keep him in the conversation around the sport, from his transfer to Pittsburgh in 2022 to his six-game stint in 2023 before going undrafted in 2024. The former Boston College and Pittsburgh quarterback, once a familiar name in the ACC, is now facing a very different kind of attention after being arrested on Sept. 18 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
According to the facts available, Jurkovec was arrested after allegedly stealing a box truck from Allegheny Health Networks Wexford Hospital. He was charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled later this month as the case moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame's Miami Test Suddenly Looks Very Different
Miamis depth chart already had plenty of questions heading into its November meeting with Notre Dame, and now the Hurricanes are dealing with a more immediate round of losses. Coach Mario Cristobal said running back CharMar Brown and wide receiver Josh Moore are out for the season after injuries, with Brown suffering a serious right knee injury and Moore dealing with an upper-body injury. Linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin is also expected to miss several weeks, further thinning a defense that has to keep planning for a Notre Dame opponent with its own physical identity.
For the Fighting Irish, the developments matter because this trip now looks a little different than it did even a few days ago. Miami is still sorting through its linebacker situation with other players availability unclear, and that kind of uncertainty can change how a team prepares from one week to the next. Notre Dame will still have to earn every inch in a road game with stakes attached, but the Hurricanes injury list has added a fresh layer of instability to a matchup that already had enough intrigue. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Purdue Spread Comes With One Complication Fans Cant Ignore
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Purdue carrying the kind of hefty betting line that usually reflects a clear talent gap. DraftKings has the Irish favored by 27.5 points, and on paper it is easy to see why: Purdues defense has had a rough season, while Notre Dame has looked strong on both sides of the ball.
Still, the spread is not the only thing worth watching here. Notre Dame is working through some defensive injuries, which adds a little uncertainty to a game that otherwise looks comfortable, and Purdue at least has a quarterback who can keep things interesting in Ryan Browne, who has already topped 1,000 passing yards with seven touchdown throws and just one interception. [Read more 🡒]