(Photo: John Mattera)
Twelve weeks ago, the thought of Notre Dame reaching the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoffs seemed improbable at best. The Irish opened their 2024 season on a high note, defeating Texas A&M on the road, only to stumble a week later in a shocking home loss to Northern Illinois. For even the most loyal fans, the path to playoff contention was clear but daunting—win out, or be left out.
Winning 10 straight games seemed like a tall order for a team that had already suffered a humbling defeat at home to a Mid-American Conference opponent. Yet, week by week, the Irish defied expectations. Whether it was dominant victories or gritty comebacks, they weathered injuries and challenges, with unsung heroes stepping up in pivotal moments. Unlikely names became synonymous with game-changing plays as the once-far-fetched playoff scenario started to materialize.
Still, one hurdle loomed: tonight’s season finale in Los Angeles against archrival USC. On rivalry weekend, with the chaos of upsets reshaping the playoff picture last week and earlier today, Notre Dame faced a high-stakes clash that epitomized their season-long resilience.
For most of the game, it appeared destined for a nail-biting finish. The Irish defense bent, a lot, allowing 557 yards, but never gave up the lead. Then, in the game’s critical closing minutes, Christian Gray seized the moment with a perfectly timed interception of USC quarterback Jayden Maiava. Gray returned it 99 yards for a touchdown, which ended up being the decisive blow. Moments later, backfield counterpart Xavier Watts added his own exclamation point with a 100-yard pick-six, capping a 49-point outburst that sealed Notre Dame’s victory, 49-35 over the Trojans.
With the win, Notre Dame’s playoff destiny was no longer in doubt. As the rankings stand, the Irish are firmly in the mix for that coveted 5-seed, which they would earn with any final ranking in the top-5 due to CFP rule of reserving the top-4 seeds for the conference champions. The committee’s precedent of rewarding winners suggests the Irish are likely going to host the No. 12 team in the first round—and with that winner playing the lowest ranked conference champion, a realistic path to the semifinals of the first-ever College Football Playoff Final Four exists for the Irish.
Marcus Freeman’s squad has epitomized resilience all season. After an early-season setback that could have derailed their hopes, the Irish regrouped and fought their way back into contention. And on the final day of the regular season, Notre Dame once again showed their knack for rising to the moment when it matters most. Just when it seemed like this could be the time their luck might run out, a player stepped up to deliver a game-changing play, keeping their playoff dreams alive.
And now the Irish are poised for another first in program history: a late December football game in Notre Dame Stadium. Get ready Irish faithful, the road to the national championship will officially start one week from tomorrow night when the final rankings are released. And one thing that is certain, the Irish are going to be there and in the mix. Are you going to bet against them now?