A day late and 10 days short is what the fate of eight means to Notre Dame. The Irish will make it to Glendale, Ariz., in January, which was part of a “mission” born before any of the team’s 10 victories and two defeats played out in a season rife with injuries that would have devastated a lot of teams. But the Irish will be there one day after Clemson faces Oklahoma and Alabama plays Michigan State in College Football Playoff semifinals on New Year’s Eve in Miami and Dallas. They also will be there 10 days before two of those teams play for the national title in the same stadium where Notre Dame will face Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Both the Irish and Buckeyes spent their fair share of time in the top four before falling. They were rewarded with what might be the best non-playoff bowl matchup. “We’re going to get one more challenge against what could be the best team in the country,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said of the defending national champions. “Who is to say they’re not? I know the committee decided who the four teams were, but you could take (any) one of eight teams and make the case for them.” That’s where that number, eight, comes back into play. Eight is the first number that is neither prime nor semiprime, somewhat fitting for Kelly’s team, which was ranked No. 8 by the CFP selection committee. The Irish will be in neither prime time nor semiprime time when they face the No. …
Continue Reading: Eight-team playoff would be on the number for Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly
