We all know the team is heading into playoff time. He is a player who plays hard, wins consecutive games, and plays with incredible confidence, leading to a playoff berth and a championship. In the NFL, the 2012 Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl title with the attention of Joe Flacco and a great defense. The 12-team College Football Playoff is fast approaching, but there's one team that could peak at the right time and make the playoffs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Despite losing to Northern Illinois earlier in the season, the Irish have wiped out their remaining opponents as a No. 7 seed and are in the playoffs, but could be the most dangerous team in the playoffs. The Irishman is in good form and is a sleeper candidate to win it all.
physical trench play
Notre Dame knows exactly who they are as a team and they lead with their physicality in the trenches. They have grown a lot on the offensive line this season and have found an identity in running the football very well. His 0.20 EPA per carry this season is in the 90th percentile, and his explosive 10.5% run rate is among the best in the country. Running backs Jeremiah Love and Jadarrian Price and quarterback Riley Leonard have rushed for over 500 yards this season and have completed at least 40 percent. They can move the ball around the ground, but they can also hit home runs if they want. They want to punish opponents on the ground and have been on a tear since the loss to NIU, averaging well over 200 rushing yards per game. I like the way they run their offense. There are a lot of runs coming directly at you like a duo in the QB run game, which makes it a lot harder to defend.
Defensively it is very simple, but there is beauty in simplicity. They play the fourth-most man coverage in the nation. But for them, it all starts from the beginning. They have a lot of players in the rotation, with six players totaling at least 10 pressures. I love defensive tackle Riley Mills, but freshman Bryce Young has also been pretty strong this season. Their front seven is loaded with talent, and it shows in the passing game. They are #1 in EPA and completion percentage per pass allowed. When they go up against opponents, they just suffocate them with man coverage.
favorable lottery
Notre Dame took advantage of the Irish's luck with a tie for the playoffs. As the No. 7 seed, they get a home game in South Bend against a very good but very winnable Indiana team. The Irish might have the advantage in the trenches in that game. If the Hoosiers' loss to Ohio State showed us anything, it's that there really isn't an answer to Indiana's onslaught, especially if QB Curtis Rourke isn't healthy. But speaking of an unhealthy QB, the winner of the 7-10 game will advance Georgia to the second round. The Bulldogs are still strong, but will likely be without QB Carson Beck after injuring his UCL in the SEC Championship Game. Georgia's skill position talent may not be enough to support a backup QB this year, and without a superstar pass catcher or running back, they'll have to get creative.
Notre Dame has enough talent up front to compete against Georgia, and if it comes down to trusting QB Gunner Stockton or Riley Leonard, I think I'll side with Leonard. The board swung in Notre Dame's favor, and that favorable tie made them legitimate contenders.
Aggressive QB play
Let's go back to Leonard for a moment. Since the NIU loss, the Fighting Irish signal-caller has looked healthier and more confident than ever. After nursing a shoulder injury, Leonard returned to the dual-threat he was supposed to transfer from Duke. Since the loss to Northern Illinois, he has thrown 16 touchdowns and is sixth in total QBR. Notre Dame's run game is very efficient and explosive, so he won't throw the ball that far downfield, but what Leonard needs to do is throw the ball in the short and middle areas of the field. All you have to do is hit the mark. Having him healthy will be an added advantage in the run game as well, giving the defense another liability. If he's healthy, Leonard will be a big problem in the air and on the ground.
We've seen how going into the playoffs with a lot of confidence can lead to big time gains, and Leonard comes into the playoffs feeling good.
