Notre Dame has dropped their first game of the year. They fell 28-24 to BYU. It was a controversial ending for Notre Dame, as the final play led to chaos, with a potential pass interference not called and a potential extra second not being put back on the clock. Regardless, Notre Dame came in as a massive favorite and lost the game.

Now, Stephen A. Smith is talking about the Irish and how they could be on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoffs.

“Notre Dame losing a game to BYU. Oh, Notre Dame, you better win. You better beat Miami on November 7. You better do it. You better do it, or I don't want to hear a d**n thing about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish being a top 12 playoff team. You can't lose to BYU, even though that was a pass interference and it should have been called,” Smith said. “But you can then turn around and lose to Miami, and have a soft a** schedule and still be in the college football playoff. Nah. Don't work that way.”

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Notre Dame has to just be in the top 12 of the CFP standings to make the playoffs. The first CFP rankings are not out yet, but the Irish are ranked fourth in the AP Poll. Still, they have not faced much. They are 6-1, but no team on their schedule is even recieving votes in the AP Pill. The toughest matchup may be North Carolina, and they went into that game as three touchdown favorites, but won by 11.

Notre Dame still has a chance to prove themselves. They have a bye this week before facing Navy. Then, on November 7, it is a Top-10 showdown as Notre Dame hosts Miami. A loss there could knock them outside of the Top 12, espeically considering the rest of the schedule. They finish the year with Boston College, SMU, and then a road trip to Syracuse.