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7. Notre Dame
11-1

What’s next: vs. No. 10 Indiana, Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ET

Head coach: Marcus Freeman (third season, 30-9 overall)

About Freeman: An All-Big Ten linebacker at Ohio State, Freeman was hired as defensive coordinator of the Fighting Irish in 2021 and elevated to the top spot 11 months later when LSU hired Brian Kelly as head coach.

Resume
Any quibble with a one-loss team slotting at No. 7 in the playoff bracket comes down to three letters: N-I-U. The loss in South Bend to the middling MAC team spoiled a legitimate bid for an undefeated regular season that would’ve made it difficult to downplay Notre Dame in the big picture.

The Fighting Irish did beat Texas A&M in College Station. As an independent Notre Dame plays traditional rivalries, went to USC and beat AAC champion Army. That’s not exactly comparable to Georgia’s list of 2024 accomplishments.

Postseason history
Notre Dame is no stranger to the big stage, as it reached the College Football Playoff semifinal two times in the previous six seasons (2018, 2020). Notre Dame last reached the championship game in the 2012 season, when it lost to Nick Saban and Alabama.

The road to Atlanta
To play for the national championship, the Fighting Irish have to beat Indiana in a home playoff game and turn around to take on No. 2 Georgia.

Names to know
QB Riley Leonard
In his first season with Notre Dame, Leonard has shown his dual-threat ability. He has passed for 2,092 yards and 16 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions. He also has rushed for 721 yards and 14 touchdowns.

RB Jeremiyah Love
Love has a nose for the end zone. The durable running back has racked up a team-high 949 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, and he has averaged 7.1 yards per carry behind a stout offensive line. Love is capable of pounding in a short run or breaking free for a home-run score.

RB Jadarian Price
Price is overshadowed by Love, but he’s a dynamic runner in his own right. On the season, Price has 651 rushing yards and has averaged 7.3 per carry. He also has rushed for seven touchdowns, which might be enough to lead some teams but puts him third on Notre Dame’s run-heavy roster.

S Xavier Watts
The graduate senior from Omaha won the Bronco Nagurski Award in 2023 as the best defensive player in college football after he led the nation with seven interceptions. This year he has proved dominant yet again. He has five interceptions, including a pick-6, to go along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

–Field Level Media