Paul Finebaum believes both Ohio State, Texas are not 'great' matchups for Notre Dame

Notre Dame has been doubted throughout the 2024 college football season, ever since the Fighting Irish lost to Northern Illinois back in Week 2. Notre Dame’s opponent for the national championship game isn’t even set yet, but the Fighting Irish are already being doubted once again.

Paul Finebaum said on Get Up Friday morning that whether it is Ohio State or Texas, he doesn’t like Notre Dame’s chances of winning the national championship game.

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“I think they would have a better chance against Texas, but… throughout the course of history, Notre Dame has been the most hated team in America. They’re not anymore,” Paul Finebaum said. “Marcus Freeman has made them likeable. I mean I was with them last week in New Orleans, and fans are cheering, they’re the underdog. I didn’t think I would live long enough to watch Notre Dame in this likeable, underdog role.

“And they will be the underdog either against Texas or Ohio State. It’s a little hard to calculate, but right now it doesn’t seem like a great matchup for Notre Dame against either team.”

Ohio State has looked like the best team in college football during its opening two games of the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes blasted Tennessee and Oregon to reach the Cotton Bowl, winning both games by 20-plus points

As for Texas, the Longhorns handled Clemson in the opening round of the CFP, before surviving against Arizona State in double overtime to reach the Cotton Bowl.

As Finebaum said, both teams will likely be favored against Notre Dame, particularly with the Fighting Irish beat up. But Marcus Freeman’s team just continues to find ways to win.

Regardless of what happens in the national title game, Finebaum is giving Freeman a ton of credit for the season Notre Dame has had.

“To me, the fact that they are there so quickly under Marcus Freeman is the story of the year in college football,” Finebaum said.

Marcus Freeman is in his third season as the Notre Dame head coach after taking over for Brian Kelly, who left for the LSU job. Freeman has done a masterful job with the Fighting Irish program and now has Notre Dame in position to win its first national title since 1988.