JD PicKell: Week 4 Ohio State vs. Notre Dame game is a 'Playoff' game

Ohio State and Notre Dame play a de facto playoff game Week 4 of the 2023 college football season, according to On3’s J.D. PicKell.

Basically, a loss for either team could extremely hamper their playoff chances. Notre Dame, since it doesn’t play in a conference, is more reliant on an 11-1 or 12-0 season.

But mark your calendars for this one. It’ll practically be a playoff preview.

“Ohio State is going to South Bend to play Notre Dame and we’re gonna learn a lot about both these teams very early on,” PicKell said on The Hard Count. “Because if Notre Dame loses this game, their college football playoff hopes, in my opinion, are somewhere between deceased and on life support. Because remember now Notre Dame, when conference championship weekend rolls around, guess what they’re doing? Chilling on the couch, watching it all.

“We’ve seen a couple of times, that can bite Notre Dame, should they not be in position with a clean slate, chilling, waiting for whoever ends up playing them in the College Football Playoff. So if they dropped this game. It’s very, very bad news. Notre Dame needs to win this game.”

As far as Ohio State, perhaps the Buckeyes can afford a loss. However, the schedule following Notre Dame is brutal for Ryan Day and company.

Plus, when the team played second fiddle to Michigan that last two years, a win over Notre Dame is something Ohio State desperately needs.

“Now for Ohio State, breaking a new quarterback in, whether it’s Devin Brown or Kyle McCord, this is early enough in their season to where I think the psyche of this team should they drop it, could be at risk,” PicKell said. “Because you still got to play Wisconsin at Wisconsin. You got to play Penn State. You got to go to Michigan, a team that you failed to beat now in two tries the last two years and stakes are high in this one. 

“Either way, if you drop this game for either team, you lose control of your destiny. But for Ohio State to have one loss and stare Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan in the face, I don’t feel great about that with a first year quarterback. I don’t like that one bit.”

Imagine what this’ll do for Ohio State’s resume. A win in South Bend? The Buckeyes will sign up for it now.

On the flip side, Notre Dame beating Ohio State would be the biggest win of Marcus Freeman’s young career.