Notre Dame received its third College Football Playoff game in a row on Thursday night and now awaits the Ohio State-Texas winner within the nationwide championship. Since dropping to Northern Illinois, the Preventing Irish have clearly been considered one of, if not the most effective faculty soccer group within the nation. By knocking off Penn State within the semifinals, Notre Dame additionally ran its report towards High 25 groups to 7–0 on the yr. One would assume that it might be arduous to seek out somebody to rain on what might be an impending golden parade however First Take was capable of finding Cam Newton to just do that.
His takeaway?
Notre Dame, essentially the most well-known unbiased program in faculty soccer historical past, ought to buck custom and be a part of a convention.
“I am prepared for Notre Dame to play in a convention.” 😳 —@CameronNewton pic.twitter.com/PsGgqkWFyD
— First Take (@FirstTake) January 10, 2025
“They’re 7–0 towards ranked opponents,” Newton mentioned. “Now that might be a really subjective and actual sort of skewed sort of statistic. These groups are as follows: Texas A&M, okay. Louisville, Navy [laughs], Indiana, Military, Georgia with out Carson Beck after which additionally Penn State. With that, I am not attempting to rain on their parade as a result of their protection is legit. However I am saying the highway to the place they’ve gotten, that is my query.”
That is actually Newton’s proper to really feel that approach. However why on this planet would Notre Dame wish to be a part of a convention proper now? The are capable of craft a schedule that is tough sufficient to permit them entry into the Faculty Soccer Playoff in the event that they solely stumble as soon as and so they do not must share any of the juice that comes with making and advancing deep into this 12-team event.
By reaching the nationwide championship, Notre Dame has earned the utmost $20 million in CFP payouts.
Which it doesn’t must share with anybody.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 10, 2025
A group that’s clearly superb simply received three playoff video games. It is a very complicated factor to do to succeed in out and ding them for some cause, after they clearly belong the place they are going. Did Notre Dame get some luck? Certain. Good luck discovering a championship group in any sport that did not additionally catch some breaks. Might they’ve navigated the ACC this yr to make the playoff? Very seemingly. And that most likely would have include a first-round bye to make their path a lot simpler. The Irish can not presently earn a free move to the quarterfinals as a result of they’re unbiased. An individual may argue that, long-term, that is going to problem them much more with regards to successful nationwide titles than becoming a member of a convention would.
