Everybody in the college football media saw Clemson destroy Notre Dame in primetime.
Though most members of the college football media expected the Clemson Tigers to defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in their rematch at the ACC Championship game, nobody anticipated a blowout of this magnitude, as Clemson won easily, 34-10. Notre Dame football fans must feel terrible right now.
This loss was so devastating for the Irish that it might knock them out of the College Football Playoff entirely. If they looked this badly against a Clemson team it had already beaten, can you even imagine what the score will be in the Sugar Bowl once the top-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide gets a hold of them? Naturally, the college football media had a field day with Notre Dame.
Will Notre Dame’s loss to Clemson cost them a playoff spot?
People were making fun of Notre Dame by saying this blowout defeat was the biggest reason behind the ACC canceling the Irish’s last remaining regular-season game vs. the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
I know this is bad optics for Notre Dame to get blown out but even in a blow out they objectively have a better resume than A&M. Their best win is better than A&M’s and their second best win is also better than A&M’s second best win. That’s what the committee cares about
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 19, 2020
Man, I know we joked about Notre Dame being an honorary Coastal Division team this year, but this is some method acting level stuff from the Irish tonight in the ACC title game. pic.twitter.com/wtzGU2FC42
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) December 19, 2020
Notre Dame in BCS/NY6/CFP games last 25 years ...
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 19, 2020
'01 Fiesta: L 41-9 to Oregon State.
'06 Fiesta: L 34-20 to Ohio State.
'07 Sugar: L 41-14 to LSU.
'13 BCS title game: L 42-14 to Bama.
'16 Fiesta: L 44-28 to Ohio State.
'18 CFP: L 30-3 to Clemson.
Today's not surprising.
31-3 is a serious issue for Notre Dame now. Do you think Clemson calls dogs off or tries to bury them?
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 19, 2020
There is no way Notre Dame football fans can feel great about what happened in Charlotte. Conversely, Clemson football fans can celebrate knowing their beloved team will have a top-two seed in the College Football Playoff once again.
make fun if you want, but notre dame is losing because they’re insufficiently funded. their alumni can’t support the program since a notre dame degree doesn’t mean very much to employers. get your jokes off though
— Jon Bois (@jon_bois) December 19, 2020
Clemson averaged only one yard per carry in its first meeting vs NotreDame. Tonight, the Tigers are averaging nine yards per carry. Strong statement by Clemson on both sides of the ball.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 19, 2020
Now I see why the ACC canceled Notre Dame's game vs Wake Forest.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) December 19, 2020
any Notre Dame fans out there arguing they belong in the playoff clearly believe more in their team than Brian Kelly, who just punted from the 50 with his team down 28 points
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 19, 2020
It feels like Clemson, the Ohio State Buckeyes and presumably Alabama will be three of the four teams getting in. However, we have no earthly idea of who will get that No. 4 seed at this time. How sure are we that it will still be Notre Dame?
If Notre Dame doesn't turn it around, the committee will have to do something they've never done:
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) December 19, 2020
-take a team with a blowout loss that isn't the SEC champ
-take a team with two losses
-take an unbeaten G5 team
The most obvious answer here is also the one they'll never do
If we were worried there would be no intrigue headed into tomorrow that is no longer a concern. And if Notre Dame gets left out, it is going to be noisy. #CFP
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) December 19, 2020
Notre Dame scores a touchdown. Suddenly the margin (24) doesn't look THAT bad against Clemson. But is it enough?
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 20, 2020
31-3. Whatever happens after this doesn't matter. Notre Dame hasn't been remotely competitive against Clemson with Trevor Lawrence. Irish have hung their playoff credentials on the 2OT, home win all season and now it's clear as day it HAS to carry an asterisk.
— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) December 19, 2020
The Selection Committee can either take a team that got blown out in its conference championship (Notre Dame), a team that did not play for one (Texas A&M), a team that lost twice in conference play and has not won a playoff game in four chances (Oklahoma) or an undefeated Group of 5 team, assuming Alabama takes care of business vs. the Florida Gators.
So:
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) December 19, 2020
We've seen Notre Dame play at Clemson at full strength - ND got destroyed.
We've seen A&M play Alabama at full strength - A&M got destroyed.
And you guys want to EXPAND the playoff? You've got to be kidding me.
So, are we going resumes or last impressions? B/c resumes aren't particularly close.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 19, 2020
Notre Dame
Record: 10-1
Top 25: 2-1
Above .500: 4-1
Opp win %: .478
Texas A&M
Record: 8-1
Top 25: 1-1
Above .500: 2-1
Opp win % .443*
LSU-Ole Miss, Bama-UF results pending.
I’ve got an answer to the Notre Dame-Texas A&M debate that’s all over social media during this Clemson beat down.
— Mark Giannotto (@mgiannotto) December 20, 2020
Cincinnati.
I needed a good cry anyways #nightmarefuel pic.twitter.com/Tp8UcPMKxh
— Chase Claypool (@ChaseClaypool) December 19, 2020
At the very least, this lopsided affair at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte gives us great intrigue heading into the final College Football Playoff Rankings. There is usually one tough decision to be made by the Selection Committee. Too bad they will have several to make with Notre Dame looking as dreadful as the Golden Domers did on Saturday night.
Who should be the fourth team getting into the College Football Playoff field now?
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