USA Today Predicts New Playoff Opponent for Notre Dame Football

Plenty of places have Notre Dame making the CFP, but this is the first we've seen that has its opponent in the dance

Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman celebrates at the 90th annual Sun Bowl game against Oregon State on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at El Paso, Texas. / GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK

We've seen a good amount of preseason college football predictions and many of them have Notre Dame making the College Football Playoff.

The opponents are usually one of a handful for Notre Dame as Ole Miss, Texas, Alabama, and Penn State.

Some others have popped up but one that we haven't seen making the College Football Playoff much is Oklahoma.

Until now.

The USA Today released its preseason bowl projections for the 2024 season and it has Notre Dame making the College Football Playoff. It's opponent?

Sep 28, 2013; South Bend, IN, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Blake Bell (10) carries the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) defends in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. / Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma is who Erick Smith of USA Today has coming to Notre Dame Stadium in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Smith must be super-high on Oklahoma as he actually predicts the Sooners win the game and move onto the quarterfinals.

I'm pretty certain Oklahoma is going to be a very tough out for SEC opponents but I have trouble seeing the Sooners make the College Football Playoff. I don't know who the Oklahoma folks ticked off in the SEC but check out the first schedule the Sooners get as a member of the SEC.

Oklahoma Sooners 2024 Football Schedule

Aug. 30 - vs. Temple
Sept. 7 - vs. Houston
Sept. 14 - vs. Tulane
Sept. 21 - vs. 15 Tennessee
Sept. 28 - at Auburn
Oct. 12 - vs. 4 Texas
Oct. 19 - vs. South Carolina
Oct. 26 - at 6 Ole Miss
Nov. 2 - vs. Maine
Nov. 9 - at 11 Missouri
Nov. 23 - vs. 5 Alabama
Nov. 30 - at 13 LSU

If Oklahoma, who starts the year ranked 16th in the AP Poll can make the College Football Playoff, then a trip to Notre Dame Stadium certainly won't seem like too tall of task after what it took just to get there.

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