Desmond Howard projects major Playoff implications from Notre Dame’s season opener vs. Texas A&M
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Desmond Howard is pretty high on Notre Dame’s prospects entering the 2024 season. A lot of that has to do with the schedule, including a top-25 matchup against Texas A&M in the season opener.
During a recent broadcast of ESPN’s “Get Up,” Howard was asked about the prospects of penciling the Fighting Irish into the College Football Playoff if they win in Week 1. Howard agrees with that projection, pointing to a favorable schedule that looks even more favorable after Florida State laid a dud against Georgia Tech in Week 0.
“Yes sir, you see that Paul Finebaum chuckled too because he knows it’s true. If you look at their schedule, they have a relatively light schedule after this Texas A&M game,” said Howard. “You would think that maybe the Florida State game would have been a tough game, but after they lost to Georgia Tech, that doesn’t look like it will be much of a challenge.”
In case anyone has forgotten, Howard reminded fans that Notre Dame does not have to play in a conference championship game. That can be a positive and a negative, but it’s likely to give the Fighting Irish a smoother path to the Playoff field with 12 spots in play.
“And don’t forget: They don’t have a conference championship game, either. This is their season,” described Howard. “All they have to do is win their games starting Saturday and they’re in the driver’s seat…
“If [Notre Dame] wins Saturday, you can just go ahead and write them in ink in the College Football Playoff.”
“If [Notre Dame] wins Saturday [vs. Texas A&M], you can just go ahead and write them in ink in the College Football Playoff.”
—@DesmondHoward on Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M’s Week 1 matchup pic.twitter.com/hLKq5V6V4k
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 27, 2024
Even as a top 10 team, Notre Dame heads into the matchup as a 2.5-point underdog per FanDuel. Playing in College Station is not a walk in the park, but it will be the A&M head coaching debut for Mike Elko.
We’ll see if Notre Dame can punctuate an early marquee win or if the Aggies have something to say about the Fighting Irish in Week 1.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
