Winning at Stanford would give Notre Dame its third win over a team in this week’s College Football Playoff selection committee top 25, with the Cardinal moving up one spot to No. 21 on Tuesday.
In Irish coach Brian Kelly’s mind, that résumé might yet warrant Playoff consideration.
“Our mission is still to hold out hope for one of the Playoff spots,” Kelly said Tuesday. “… It’s trying to prepare [his team] for one more game and finishing off the season on a high note.”
Kelly’s mission may be far-fetched, though he is certainly aware of as much.