By Cole Kruger
In today’s Fact or Fiction, I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or FICTION.
1. Notre Dame should be top 4
My Take: FACT
Many quickly wrote off the Irish after their week two loss to Northern Illinois, but Notre Dame has only improved since then. This past Saturday, Notre Dame destroyed Army, who had been 9-0 before the game. The Irish have won nine straight, six straight by at least 21 points, and two of those wins came against top 25 teams.
It seems like Marcus Freeman has figured out how to unlock Riley Leonard as a dual-threat QB, as well as allowing star RB Jeremiyah Love to completely take over games. In the recent AP and Coaches Polls Notre Dame comes in at number five, but an interesting decision the CFP committee will have to make this week is if Notre Dame should jump Penn State and enter the top 4.
With Penn State struggling against Minnesota and Texas struggling against Kentucky, the Irish should at least be top 4. Notre Dame has been extremely dominant since the NIU loss, and although they won’t play in a conference championship, this team has serious championship aspirations.
2. Texas/Texas A&M is the biggest game of the weekend
My Take: FICTION
College Gameday is heading to College Station for an SEC elimination game between one of the oldest rivalries in the sport, the Aggies of Texas A&M and Longhorns of Texas. As good as this game will be, the biggest game on the Saturday slate is happening in South Carolina, as Clemson will take on the feisty Gamecocks.
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South Carolina has sneakily been one of the best teams in the SEC, winning five in a row after the narrow defeat against Alabama. The Gamecocks could power themselves into the CFP conversation with a win, even if they don’t make the SEC Championship.
On the other hand, Clemson needs a win to stay in the CFP race, even if they don’t make their respective conference championship game. SMU has clinched a spot in the ACC Championship, and Clemson would need a Miami loss, along with a win themselves, to clinch a spot. On top of this game having major stakes, this is an extremely nasty rivalry. With what’s on the line on Saturday, no love will be lost between these foes.
3. Even in the loss, Indiana will still make the CFP
My Take: FACT
The Indiana Hoosiers came into the Horseshoe on Saturday as 13-point underdogs against Ohio State, and they looked outmatched as they were demolished, with the final score ending at 38-15. IU started the game by forcing an OSU 3-and-out and followed it up by going 70 yards in 11 plays to get out to a 7-0 lead. After that, it was pure downhill for the Hoosiers, as QB Kurtis Rourke was under constant pressure, throwing 8/18 for 68 yards. Ohio State was aided a bit by Indiana’s special team blunders, as punter James Evans muffed the snap to set up Ohio State in the red zone right before half, which gave the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead. The first punt in the second half resulted in a Caleb Downs return to give Ohio State a 21-7 lead, and the game was out of reach for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Following the game’s conclusion, it seemed like Indiana’s season could be over, but they got a ton of help from the rest of the country. With Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Colorado, BYU, and Alabama losing, it will be tough for the committee to find 12 better teams than Indiana. The Hoosiers dropped to tenth in the latest AP Poll, and wherever the committee puts Indiana on Tuesday will be a huge indicator of if the Hoosiers can still make the CFP. After the loss, Indiana is still ranked in the top 10, and with a win against Purdue this weekend, Indiana will still be in prime position to make the College Football playoffs as a one-loss Big 10 team.
Bucket Game under the lights. pic.twitter.com/LEIDTJ0N3M
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) November 24, 2024
