Notre Dame Projected To Play In The Orange Bowl

The Irish are expected to take on Pittsburgh from the ACC

Bryan Driskell | Oct 15, 2019

Matt Cashore, USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame enters its halfway point of the season ranked No. 8 in the national polls and poised for a New Years Six bowl game. According to Sports Illustrated college football writer Michael Shapiro, Notre Dame is projected to play Pittsburgh in the Orange Bowl.

The Orange Bowl pits the top ACC team against a Big Ten opponent, a SEC opponent or Notre Dame. With Clemson projected to be a College Football Playoff contestant, Shapiro went with Pittsburgh as the next best ACC team.

Pittsburgh began the season 1-2 with losses to Virginia (30-14) and Penn State (17-10), but it has won three straight games and now sits at 4-2. The Panthers own a home win over UCF (35-34) and a road win at Duke (33-30), and they head to Syracuse for a Friday night matchup.

The Panthers are currently 1-1 in the ACC Coastal Division and trail Virginia, Duke and North Carolina by a half-game.

Last week, Shapiro had the Irish projected to play Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl, but the Deacons lost to Louisville (62-59) on Saturday night.

Shapiro’s current Playoff projection is Alabama against Ohio State in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl and Clemson against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach still has the Irish taking on Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl while Kyle Bonagura has Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl against Boise State.

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Published Oct 15, 2019

BRYAN DRISKELL

Bryan Driskell is the publisher of Irish Breakdown and has been covering Notre Dame football for over a decade. A former college football player and coach, Bryan and Irish Breakdown bring a level of expertise and analysis that is unmatched. From providing in depth looks at the Fighting Irish, breaking news stories and honest recruiting analysis, Irish Breakdown has everything Notre Dame football fans want and need. Bryan was previous a football analyst for Blue & Gold Illustrated before launching Irish Breakdown. He coached college football at Duquesne University, Muhlenberg College, Christopher Newport University, Wittenberg University and Defiance College. During his coaching career he was a pass game coordinator, recruiting coordinator, quarterbacks coach, running backs coach and wide receivers coach. Bryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Salisbury University, where he played quarterback for the Sea Gulls. You can email Bryan at bryan@irishbreakdown.com. Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more. BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Follow Bryan on Twitter: @CoachD178Like and follow Irish Breakdown on FacebookSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channelSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter