Can’t go undefeated unless you win all the games away from home. Obviously, this is self-evident, but it’s one of those things that’s easier said than done. Winning on the road is hard, that’s largely why going undefeated is hard. Case in point being the bulk of Brian Kelly’s Notre Dame career. Road losses derailed Notre Dame’s playoff chances in 2017, 2015, and 2014. It’s what separates the contenders from the pretenders.
Obviously, the 2012 crew handled their road slate very well, going 6-0 in the regular season, while famously finishing undefeated. They were a good road team, and put together some of their best performances while on the road.