ARLINGTON, Texas — Let’s get this part out of the way: Notre Dame lost to Clemson in its first trip to the College Football Playoff on Saturday, 30–3. That’s a 27-point margin. Six years ago, the last time the Fighting Irish went undefeated in a regular season, they lost to Alabama in the national championship, 42–14. That loss was by 28 points.
It’s easy to glance at the box scores and pin the stigma on Notre Dame that it doesn’t belong on the big stage for various reasons. Not having strong enough personnel being a popular one.