Notre Dame Makes Its Case in Blacksburg

And so ends the nut-cuttin' portion of the Fighting Irish schedule.

At least, that's what some would have us believe. The reality is Notre Dame could encounter more land mines in November in its quest for a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

With back-to-back victories over Stanford and, now, Virginia Tech, though, dudes are well on task.

 

The leprechauns are definitely firing on all cylinders right now, with much of the focus directed at junior chucker Ian Book.

Given time to go through his progressions and helped by receivers like Miles Boykin who actually receive, dude's making the big plays right now, just like he did in last year's Citrus Bowl against LSU:

 

That forces defenses to honor the passing game and, in turn, gives Irish backs like Dexter Williams more room to maneuver.

Put it all together, and all of Bud Foster's famed defensive schemes went for naught in Notre Dame's impressive 45-23 victory over the Hokies:

 

Conventional wisdom now is the Irish merely need to hold serve to earn a trip to the CFP's anointed four.

After all, they've now got wins over Michigan, Stanford, and Virginia Tech in the bag.

 

However, that cruise to the finish may be tougher than some wags imagine.

After hosting Pittsburgh this weekend and then enjoying a bye week, Notre Dame's facing a few tricky road games, most notably in San Diego, New York, and Los Angeles:

Let us count the ways where a stumble is possible:

• Navy's triple-option flexbone is always a matter of adjustment for any opponent due to the fact they hardly ever see it and have only a week to practice it;
• Syracuse is playing everyone tough these days, including Clemson on the road; and
• Hightly-touted JT Daniels will be a frosh QB in name only by the end of November.

 

Yes. Yes, they do.

And if all goes their way, they'll control their destiny.

That's more of a Calvinist than a Catholic ideology, but this is football, dammit. They'll take it.