Notre Dame Football Bowl Projections: Irish Make Strong Push for Home Playoff Spot

And yet one prognosticator still doesn't see the Irish making the College Football Playoff
Oct 19, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates after a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Oct 19, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates after a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Notre Dame is on a roll and within striking distance of making the College Football Playoff.

The question has moved from Notre Dame making the CFP to asking whether it will host a home playoff game.

Personally, I'm fascinated to see if Notre Dame can get into a top six seed because that would bring a potential second round date with the ACC, Big 12 or Group of Five representative instead of the champion of the Big Ten or SEC.

So what do the so-called experts see happening with Notre Dame in the postseason following what was a wild Week 11 of college football?

College Football Bowl Projections: College Football News

Notre Dame Stadium in the snow during a game against Boston College in 2022.
Nov 19, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Heavy snow falls in the third quarter of the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Boston College Eagles at Notre Dame Stadium. / Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 6 seed vs. 11 Indiana
Location: Notre Dame, Ind.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: Sports Illustrated

Notre Dame takes on Tennessee in 2004
Nov 6, 2004; Knoxville, TN, USA; Norte Dame Fighting Irish defense stops Tennessee Volunteers runningback #31 Gerald Riggs Jr. in the third quarter at Neyland Stadium. Fighting Irish beat the Vols 17-13. / Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 9 seed vs. 8 Tennessee
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: USA TODAY Sports

An Indiana cheerleader during the Hoosiers defeat of Michigan in 202
Nov 9, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers cheerleader in the first quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium. / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 9 seed vs. 8 Indiana
Location: Bloomington, Ind.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: Action Network

Notre Dame players celebrate a touchdown against Florida State in 202
Notre Dame celebrates a touchdown scored by wide receiver Deion Colzie during a NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend. / MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 7 seed vs. 10 Indiana
Location: Notre Dame, Ind.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: 247Sports

Notre Dame and Alabama signs at the 2021 Rose Bow
Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Rose petals remain on the field outside Notre Dame's tunnel following their 31-14 loss to Alabama in the 2021 College Football Playoff Rose Bowl game on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Alabama won 31-14. / Robert Franklin-Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 7 seed vs. 10 Alabama
Location: Notre Dame, Ind.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: CBS Sports

Notre Dame takes on Penn State in 200
Sept 8, 2007; University Park, PA, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team huddles before a play against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Notre Dame 31-10. / James Lang-Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 9 seed vs. 8 Penn State
Location: State College, Penn.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: Athlon Sports

Alabama cheerleaders lead the team onto the field against Missour
Oct 26, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders run onto the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. / Butch Dill-Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 9 seed vs. 8 Alabama
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: ESPN (Bonagura)

Indiana football fans during the team's win over Michigan in 202
Nov 9, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers fans in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium. / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 9 seed vs. 8 Indiana
Location: Bloomington, Ind.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: ESPN (Schlabach)

The Pop-Tarts mascot in the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bow
Dec 28, 2023; Orlando, FL, USA; the Pop-Tarts bowl mascot Strawberry performs for the crowd after a game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and Kansas State Wildcats at Camping World Stadium. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Bowl: Pop-Tarts Bowl
Matchup: Notre Dame vs. Iowa State
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Date: December 27, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: Bud Elliott

Notre Dame takes on Georgia in 2017 in South Ben
Sep 9, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Chris Finke (10) carries the ball as Georgia Bulldogs safety J.R. Reed (20) prepares to tackle in the fourth quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. / Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 8 seed vs. 9 Georgia
Location: Notre Dame, Ind.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

College Football Bowl Projections: Notre Dame on SI

Jeff Samardzija runs after a catch against Tennessee in 200
Nov 5, 2005; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish receiver Jeff Samardzija (83) runs after a catch against the Tennessee Volunteers. / Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Bowl: College Football Playoff
Matchup: 8 seed vs. 9 Tennessee
Location: Notre Dame, Ind.
Date: December 20/21, 2024

More from Notre Dame on Sports Illustrated

Notre Dame's Path to Hosting College Football Playoff Game Becomes More Clear

Notre Dame Updates Depth Chart Following Significant Injury for Virginia Game

More Night Games at Notre Dame Stadium? Marcus Freeman Hopes So

Key Takeaways as Notre Dame Obliterates Florida State

Notre Dame Reemerges in Joel Klatt's Top 10 College Football Rankings


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