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Where Notre Dame stands in pre-bowl CFP rankings, other polls

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•12/04/22•

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Notre Dame celebrates its victory over Boston College. (Photo by Chad Weaver/BGI)

It’s time to sit back and take a few breaths before Notre Dame kicks off for the final time in the 2022 season, and the Fighting Irish (8-4) find themselves in a familiar position. They’re ranked in all the major polls going into bowl season.

Notre Dame is No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings, No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25. The Irish fell out of the rankings for a long stretch of the season after an 0-2 start but climbed back in following an early November 35-14 beatdown of then-No. 4 Clemson, who is now 11-2 with another ACC Championship under its belt.

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It obviously was not the season many expected from Notre Dame. The Irish began the year ranked No. 5 in both the coaches and AP polls. Expectations were adjusted after the winless start through Week 2, especially considering starting quarterback Tyler Buchner was lost for the remainder of the regular season because of a shoulder injury suffered versus Marshall.

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Buchner could get the starting nod for Notre Dame in the bowl game, which will be played at a location and against an opponent to be determined Sunday afternoon. Junior quarterback Drew Pyne opted to enter the transfer portal last week. The 10-game starter who guided the Irish to an 8-2 record will not be with the team for the postseason.

Buchner can help the Irish get to 9 wins, but that’s all. It’ll be the first time since 2016 that Notre Dame does not finish a season with 10 or more victories.

Here’s a look at all three sets of rankings.

Pre-bowl College Football Playoff rankings

  1. Georgia
  2. Michigan
  3. TCU
  4. Ohio State
  5. Alabama
  6. Tennessee
  7. Clemson
  8. Utah
  9. Kansas State
  10. USC
  11. Penn State
  12. Washington
  13. Florida State
  14. Oregon State
  15. Oregon
  16. Tulane
  17. LSU
  18. UCLA
  19. South Carolina
  20. Texas
  21. Notre Dame
  22. Mississippi State
  23. NC State
  24. Troy
  25. UTSA

Week 15 Coaches Poll

  1. Georgia
  2. Michigan
  3. Ohio State
  4. TCU
  5. Alabama 
  6. Tennessee 
  7. Penn State
  8. USC
  9. Kansas State 
  10. Utah
  11. Clemson
  12. Washington 
  13. Florida State
  14. Oregon
  15. LSU
  16. Oregon State
  17. Tulane
  18. UCLA 
  19. South Carolina
  20. Notre Dame
  21. Texas 
  22. UTSA 
  23. Mississippi State
  24. Troy
  25. North Carolina

Week 15 AP Top 25

  1. Georgia
  2. Michigan
  3. TCU
  4. Ohio State
  5. Alabama 
  6. Tennessee 
  7. Utah 
  8. USC
  9. Penn State 
  10. Clemson
  11. Kansas State 
  12. Washington 
  13. Florida State
  14. Tulane
  15. Oregon
  16. LSU
  17. Oregon State
  18. UCLA 
  19. Notre Dame
  20. South Carolina
  21. Texas 
  22. UTSA 
  23. Troy
  24. Mississippi State
  25. NC State

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