After Notre Dame was embarrassed during the regular season by rival Michigan, their hopes at participating in a significant bowl game were dashed. If losing out on an opportunity to participate in a college playoff game or even a New Year’s Six bowl game wasn’t bad enough, the Irish draw a matchup with Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl that presents a worst-case scenario for the Irish.
The Irish now face an Iowa State opponent that — despite having five losses — presents a major challenge for Notre Dame. Of the Cyclones five losses this season, only one was by more than seven points — Iowa State’s final game of the season against Kansas State — where they lost 27-17.