Since the NIU disaster, Notre Dame has needed to be flawless in order to remain in contention for the CFP. At the start of the season, I believed an 11-1 record would easily secure a spot in the new 12-team CFP. I thought the Irish had a game to spare.
What I didn’t anticipate was Notre Dame using up that margin with their loss to NIU in week two. This outcome altered the situation significantly.
It became clear to fans, the media, and the team that to reach the playoffs, the Irish had to win every game from that point forward.
This was a challenging expectation, one that the team created for itself by underestimating the Huskies and severely underperforming on offense. Notre Dame faced the consequences, and the real question was how they would handle the pressure week after week.
In response, Notre Dame bounced back with an impressive eight-game winning streak. Following the disappointment of the NIU loss and a series of serious injuries, the team could have easily faltered, potentially finishing the season with an 8-4 or 9-3 record. Instead, they managed eight consecutive victories with a staggering combined score of 343-85.
Marcus Freeman and his squad have shown significant growth this year. Freeman appears more confident and at ease in his role as head coach in 2024 compared to his first two seasons. As for the players, they have seemingly become resilient to pressure.
They have taken the initiative to hold one another accountable, establishing a standard of winning every week, which they have successfully maintained.
Now, the remaining question is whether the Irish will defeat Army and Navy to complete their remarkable turnaround. Stay tuned for the outcome.
