FL Expert Shares Five Reasons Notre Dame Will Prevail in CFP Semi-Finals Against Penn State—Reasons 4 and 5 Surprised Fans
While Notre Dame must defeat Penn State on Thursday to keep their College Football Playoff (CFP) hopes alive, there’s reason for optimism. The 12-team playoff format has improved the game overall, despite some remaining issues like undeserving teams getting byes or weaker teams with strong records being selected. Still, Notre Dame is poised to end its 1988 championship drought. Here are five reasons why their victory is within reach:
Notre Dame’s Defense
This defense has been remarkable, allowing only 27 points in two CFP games and limiting opponents to around two touchdowns per game. Even though they didn’t face Georgia’s starting quarterback, their defense has been strong and proven capable of performing on the road.
Special Teams
While Notre Dame wasn’t flawless against Georgia, there were standout moments, especially from kicker Mitch Jeter, who appeared to have fully recovered from a groin injury, making all his field goals and extra points. The Irish have relied on trick plays throughout the season, with their most notable trick coming against Georgia. It’s clear the coaches still have surprises up their sleeves.
Notre Dame’s Confidence
Though confidence is hard to measure, Notre Dame is playing with undeniable belief. There’s no opponent they feel they can’t beat. After defeating the SEC last Thursday, the Big Ten now stands in their way. This self-assurance is a powerful asset for the Irish.
Marcus Freeman
The team’s belief in their coach is evident, as they’ve fully embraced Marcus Freeman’s leadership. Quarterback Riley Leonard mentioned that Freeman made last-minute play adjustments that contributed to success and even baffled Georgia’s head coach. Freeman has instilled a winning mindset, and that confidence can carry the team a long way.
Battle-Tested
Experience matters in the postseason, and while Notre Dame may not have a lot of previous playoff experience, they have plenty of big-game experience. In contrast, Penn State has only faced two strong opponents this season, both of which they lost to. Notre Dame, however, is the first team to defeat an AP-ranked opponent in six different months, according to OptaSTATS, and has faced more ranked teams in the semifinals than any other team.
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