Notre Dame Secures Ideal College Football Playoff Path with Texas A&M SEC Win

Notre Dame now in prime playoff College Football Playoff position after its win at Texas A&M

Aug 31, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) catches the ball for an interception as Texas A&M Aggies tight end Theo Melin Ohrstrom (17) lunges for the tackle during the second quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Its not too early to think about the College Football Playoff

Notre Dame's 2024 schedule does not appear to be a murderer's row chock-full of what will be highly-ranked teams. Of course that could always change, but as it stands now the Irish must take full advantage of every "needle-moving" game there is on the schedule to best position themselves for the CFP.

That mission started on the road in the SEC against a ranked opponent to start the year. And Notre Dame delivered. They delivered their last road win against a ranked SEC team since 2004 at Tennessee.

This win carries massive weight.

.@NDFootball (+3) upsets Texas A&M.

Notre Dame is now 5-1-1 ATS as an underdog in the Marcus Freeman era. ✅pic.twitter.com/ox4Ez6nfAE

— John Ewing (@johnewing) September 1, 2024

Notre Dame has inside track to a home playoff game

What this win secured is the inside track for Notre Dame to host a playoff game in South Bend the last week of December. Certainly, nothing is guaranteed, but this win goes a long way towards the Irish finishing the season 12-0 or 11-1, both records that should earn Notre Dame a home playoff game.

The difference between the Irish going on the road for a round 1 playoff game vs hosting is stark. It feels like if Notre Dame is going to make a CFP run in the new format a Round 1 home game will be a part of the recipe. This huge Week 1 win makes that possible. Notre Dame's next task?

Maintain momentum and don't let up.

Notre Dame Fans Love Fired Up Marcus Freeman

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