Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IN THE TRENCHES ANDREW OWENS I ncreasingly so, college football has become a sport largely concerned with which team delivers the most emphatic statement each Saturday. Typically, the flavor of the week de- rives from the winner of the top SEC showdown from the previous Saturday or a top-15 win like the Irish can earn at Arizona State Nov. 8. In the first year of the four-team Col- lege Football Playoff, each Saturday feels like a knockout round with ana- lysts and fans impulsively anointing — or discounting — contenders. Among Notre Dame fans, the inau- gural College Football Playoff selec- tion committee poll ranked the Irish No. 10. Seven one-loss teams stood in front of the Irish. Within minutes of the unveiling, message boards lit up with accusations of anti-Notre Dame bias and premature claims that the program would need to officially join a confer- ence in order to be considered an equal with college football's "Power Five" contingent. On Nov. 1, Irish fans were dealt a dose of reality when Navy overcame a 28-7 deficit to take the lead before Notre Dame ultimately prevailed 49- 39. For fans riled up over the perceived slight of a No. 10 ranking — and it's an Tight Win A Reminder To Keep Worries In House Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly appreciates how Navy's unique offense can provide fits against any team in the country. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA