That dominant stretch has allowed Marcus Freeman's squad to rebuild confidence and make a strong case for remaining in the CFP top 10 heading into the final three games. Notre Dame's been in must-win mode since starting the season 0-2.

In fact, the Hotline would respectfully offer the following: Short of sheer and utter chaos in other conferences — chaos that cannot be explained by football physics or comprehended by the human mind — BYU and Utah have no path into the CFP’s at-large field. For both, it’s the Big 12 title or bust.