On Saturday, Notre Dame will play against Clemson in the College Football Playoff. For most college football fans, when your alma mater is playing, picking a side in a big game is a no-brainer. For me, this one is a little bit trickier: I attended both schools.
In 2012, I was a freshman at Clemson while Notre Dame was completing a historic 12–0 season, led by its Heisman finalist linebacker Manti Te'o. Although the Irish were demolished by Alabama in the national championship game (as if anyone could forget) the undefeated season was a high point for a program that struggled since the glory days of the 1980s.