Experts Still Down on Notre Dame Despite Blowout at Purdue

Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) celebrates after scoring a touchdown Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, during the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermakersat Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

While the AP has Notre Dame at No. 18 in the Top 25 poll and the USA Today/coaches poll has the Fighting Irish at the same spot, other experts didn’t give the Irish much credit for beating the brakes off the Purdue Boilermakers 66-7 on Saturday.

As with the AP and coaches poll, there are likely a few factors at play. There were no major upsets — though there were a couple of close calls. The Irish were expected to beat Purdue. Notre Dame hasn’t yet faced a true test since the shocking loss to Northern Illinois. Sure, there was concern the Irish might have a hangover after the loss to the Huskies, but it’s unlikely that Notre Dame will face an on-field test until Louisville comes to town in two weeks.

Danny Kannell has the Irish out of his top 12, with the top five being Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Miami and Alabama. CFB Kings has the Irish in the No. 22 spot and a top five of Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Miami. Meanwhile, Joel Klatt has the Irish outside his top 10, with a top five of Texas, Ohio State, Miami, Tennessee and Georgia.

It will probably take a fairly decisive win over Louisville for Notre Dame to climb back up the rankings, unless other teams get upset. It also goes without saying that the Irish will need to win at home — and probably win by a comfortable margin, at a minimum — over Miami of Ohio, as well.

CFBKings Top 25 • Week 4:

1. Georgia
2. Texas
3. Ohio State
4. Ole Miss
5. Miami
6. Alabama
7. Tennessee
8. Missouri
9. Oregon
10. Penn State
11. USC
12. OK State
13. Oklahoma
14. Kansas State
15. Clemson
16. Louisville
17. Utah
18. LSU
19. Syracuse
20. Northern Illinois
21.…

— CFB…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/experts-still-down-notre-dame-205103373.html

Author : Fighting Irish Wire

Publish date : 2024-09-15 20:51:03

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