Lindy’s Sports and Athlon Sports recently released their 2024 college football preview magazines. With that, they revealed their College Football Playoff predictions, and Notre Dame appeared in both.
Here’s where the Irish landed in Athlon and Lindy’s respective preseason projections.
Athlon Sports
Preseason ranking: No. 9
Projected CFP seed: No. 11
Projected CFP first-round matchup: at Texas
They said it: “Notre Dame’s defense should rank among the best in the nation with five starters back, including All-American candidates in lineman Howard Cross III and safety Xavier Watts. If the key transfer additions and [offensive coordinator Mike] Denbrock’s hire hit as expected, a favorable schedule gives Freeman a path to a breakout in his third season at the helm.”
Lindy’s Sports
Preseason ranking: No. 8
Projected CFP seed: No. 10
Projected CFP first-round matchup: at Ole Miss
They said it: From Heisman winner Jayden Daniels to talented Duke transfer Riley Leonard; [Denbrock made] a great move [from LSU to Notre Dame]. … “This program will always be in the conversation if they can get to 10 wins — and this year’s team is certainly capable of that.”
Blue & Gold says…
In surveying the various web outlets and data-based metrics (ESPN FPI and ESPN SP+), Notre Dame is almost always ranked anywhere from No. 5 to No. 10 in the country. Athlon and Lindy’s are no different. The top-two teams are typically Georgia and Ohio State, followed by Oregon and Texas in either order No. 3 and No. 4.
After that, it gets a little more complicated. Whether Notre Dame should be ranked on the high or low end of that 5-10 spectrum falls in the category of “There’s an argument for both sides and it’ll be settled once the season starts.” Debating it now serves little purpose.
What these projections show, however, is there’s a good chance the Irish will be seeded two spots lower than they land in a conference-free ranking. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 champions will receive first-round byes, which could hurt both Notre Dame and the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten teams who don’t win their conference.
To host a College Football Playoff game, the Irish probably need to be one considered of the six best teams in the nation. With their relatively weak schedule, they can’t do that if they lose two games. An 11-1 record will likely lead to a playoff game in South Bend, but a 10-2 record could very well put Notre Dame on the CFP bubble.
In Athlon Sports’ projection, the Irish claimed the final at-large bid despite landing in the top 10.
As for Notre Dame’s opponents, a trip to Big 10 or SEC country (which both grow larger by the year) is likely if the Irish draw a first-round road game. Texas and Ole Miss would both be difficult matchups to win away from home.
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