The No. 9 Baylor Bears upset the No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowboys Saturday in the Big 12 Championship 21-16. It ended on a thrilling way, too.

With the Cowboys’ loss, the College Football Playoff rankings are more in question, and it opens the door wide open for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Yes, the Brian Kelly-less Irish.

If Georgia beats Alabama — and Cincinnati beats Houston, the Crimson Tide will drop out of the top 4. Notre Dame was ranked No. 6 in Tuesday night’s rankings, and it seems likely the Irish would then move into the top 4. Really.

So, Notre Dame back in the Playoff under new head coach (former defensive coordinator) Marcus Freeman? A head-coaching debut in the Playoff? What a story.

But we’ve seen this story before with the Irish making the Playoff only to get slaughtered in the first game. In 2018, Clemson destroyed Notre Dame 30-3 in the first game. In 2020, Alabama hammered Notre Dame 31-14 on its way to a national championship.

So, naturally, college football fans weighed in on the Irish’s chances yet again in the Playoff, and they weren’t too kind.