Where Notre Dame football opponents are ranked in Coaches Poll, AP Top 25
The next two weeks will be tough for Notre Dame (4-3). The Fighting Irish face two of the best teams on the 2022 schedule in succession.
On deck for Saturday is a trek to Syracuse to face the upstart Orange (6-1). Syracuse narrowly lost to undefeated Clemson (8-0) on the road this weekend. The Irish return home from upstate New York to host Dabo Swinney and the Tigers at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 5. Syracuse checked in at No. 16 in the Week 9 Coaches Poll and held the same ranking in the updated AP Top 25. Clemson remained at No. 5 in both polls.
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Notre Dame has previously played two teams appearing in the polls this fall. Ohio State is No. 2 in both polls. The 7-0 Buckeyes have been a top-five team all year. North Carolina, meanwhile, is 6-1. The Tar Heels’ only loss this season came to Notre Dame in Chapel Hill on Sept. 24. The Irish offense exploded in a 45-32 victory.
Notre Dame beat then-No. 16 BYU 28-20 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Oct. 8. The Cougars have since plummeted, losing 52-35 to Arkansas and 41-14 to Liberty. What was once viewed as perhaps Notre Dame’s best win of the season has certainly not stood up as such. That designation firmly belongs to the Irish’s triumph over UNC.
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Notre Dame has a chance to rewrite that script the next two weeks, though. A win over Syracuse or Clemson would instantly become the best of first-year head coach Marcus Freeman‘s short tenure. He will also have a chance at a signature win against USC in the regular season finale. The Trojans are No. 11 in the Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the AP Top 25.
Here is a full look at both polls.
Week 9 Coaches Poll
- Georgia (7-0) (43 first-place votes)
- Ohio State (7-0) (17)
- Tennessee (7-0) (2)
- Michigan (7-0) (1)
- Clemson (8-0)
- Alabama (7-1)
- TCU (7-0)
- Oregon (6-1)
- Oklahoma State (6-1)
- Wake Forest (6-1)
- USC (6-1)
- Ole Miss (7-1)
- Penn State (6-1)
- Utah (5-2)
- UCLA (6-1)
- Syracuse (6-1)
- Kentucky (5-2)
- Illinois (6-1)
- Cincinnati (6-1)
- LSU (6-2)
- North Carolina (6-1)
- Kansas State (5-2)
- NC State (5-2)
- Tulane (7-1)
- South Carolina (5-2)
Receiving Votes: Texas 48; Liberty 42; Maryland 24; Washington 22; Oregon State 21; Baylor 6; Texas-San Antonio 4; Mississippi State 4; Troy 3; Arkansas 3; Coastal Carolina 2; Central Florida 1; Boise State 1.
Week 9 AP Top 25
- Georgia (7-0) (31 first-place votes)
- Ohio State (7-0) (18)
- Tennessee (7-0) (13)
- Michigan (7-0)
- Clemson (8-0) (1)
- Alabama (7-1)
- TCU (7-0)
- Oregon (6-1)
- Oklahoma State (6-1)
- USC (6-1)
- Wake Forest (6-1)
- UCLA (6-1)
- Penn State (6-1)
- Utah (5-2)
- Ole Miss (7-1)
- Syracuse (6-1)
- Illinois (6-1)
- LSU (6-2)
- Kentucky (5-2)
- Cincinnati (6-1)
- North Carolina (6-1)
- Kansas State (5-2)
- Tulane (7-1)
- NC State (5-2)
- South Carolina (5-2)
Receiving votes: Texas 38, Liberty 35, Oregon State 25, Mississippi State 10, Maryland 8, Troy 3, UTSA 1, Arkansas 1, Washington 1, Florida State 1
