In short, it is going to be very difficult for Notre Dame to return to the College Football Playoff for a second straight year. As stated above, going undefeated is just about Notre Dame’s only shot at making it, considering it has no conference championship or tie-in.
Now sitting at 5-1 after a win against USC, Notre Dame will need some help from the seven teams ranked above them to make the College Football Playoff.
Currently ranked ahead of Notre Dame in the AP Poll are: 1) Alabama, 2) LSU, 3) Clemson, 4) Ohio State, 5) Oklahoma, 6) Wisconsin and 7) Penn State.