They say you can't win the championship before you get there, but you can damn sure lose it. (Okay nobody says that, but I just did) That's the situation the #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0) will find themselves in when they host #6 Ohio State (3-0) on Saturday night. Since the Irish are not members of a conference in football, unlike every other sport in which they are a member of the ACC, they do not have a conference championship game to save them should they lose at any point during the season. CFP bylaws state that for a team to be selected without being a conference champion they must be "unequivocally" one of the 4 best teams in the country. Amidst their best start in years, the Irish find themselves playing for their CFP lives less than halfway through the season. In order for them to keep those hopes alive they'll need to display the same physicality that they have in their first 4 games on both sides on the ball. Coach Marcus Freeman has one of the biggest and best offensive lines in the nation and he should lean on them and star running back Audric Estime to wear the Buckeyes down for 4 quarters. Quarterback Sam Hartman, who has 13 passing TDs in 14 quarters of play, gives the Irish their best shot in years to be a legitimate contender for the CFP Championship. If he can continue to play within his skillset, maintain his efficiency and poise against OSU, and lead Notre Dame victory he'll shut the naysayers up, for now. He also keep the CFP hopes alive for the Irish, for now. #icouldbewrong, but the home underdog Irish will show the college football world on Saturday night that their hot start is no fluke and the CFP should lookout because HERE COMES THE IRISH!!
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