Joel Klatt remains a believer in Notre Dame after loss to Ohio State

Despite Notre Dame dropping a heartbreaker to Ohio State Saturday night, Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt is still a believer in the Fighting Irish.

In fact, Notre Dame has a schedule that can benefit the team moving forward. As in, the College Football Playoff is still a very realistic possibility.

The game came down to the final play and Klatt was still impressed with the Fighting Irish.

“I feel more confident in both teams moving forward,” Klatt said on his podcast. “There’s only a handful of times that’s ever happened in my entire career covering this sport. And this Saturday was now one of them. I feel more confident in both teams.

“I had questions for both programs and teams and certain sides of the ball and players specifically coming into the day. And I legitimately feel like both of these teams are better than I thought after the game. And so even in a loss for Notre Dame, I just don’t think that the season’s over at all.” 

The Fighting Irish have more opportunities, such as a game against a top 10 USC team.

“The type of game that was in the way that they lost, I think can be, not necessarily explained away, but at least there’s an argument about how great the environment was and what happened at the end,” Klatt said. “If you’re Notre Dame, I still think there’s a lot in front of you. That quarterback Sam Hartman makes them a totally different program. I was hoping this before the game and it was certainly solidified during and then now after the game is that I thought that Sam Hartman raised the ceiling for Notre Dame. 

“I said if they were to win this game, it would have been their biggest win, really, in 30 years because it would have made them legitimate at the top, legitimate in terms of a national championship. And even at a loss. I kind of feel that way.”

Notre Dame still a contender, per Joel Klatt

Notre Dame only dropped to No. 11 in the latest AP Poll. There’s plenty of time to make up ground with seven games remaining.

“Even with a loss I still feel like Notre Dame is an above the line team,” Klatt said. “The way that that game played out, the way that their quarterback played and their offensive line played and their defense played at times, in particular in short yardage situations, like Notre Dame is still really good …

“You can’t tell me that there’s a team out there that you wouldn’t be at least somewhat confident that Notre Dame could beat. They almost beat Ohio State and I think Ohio State is a really good team. USC has some problems after Saturday … After what I saw on Saturday both from the Trojans and the Irish, it makes me completely rethink that game in October. And guess what? USC is going to have some problems at Notre Dame because Notre Dame is totally legitimate.”