The Louisville football team failed in their first big test of the season. They had an opportunity to show that they were a serious contender to make the first 12-team College Football Playoff. Instead, a cavalcade of dumb mistakes cost them a win and they fell to Notre Dame 31-24.
Perhaps the only good news for the Cardinals is that this wasn't an ACC game. All of their ACC-related goals are still in front of them to complete. The other good news for them is that other teams also faltered this past weekend. That still gives them a shot to be an at-large team.
In this week's CFP prediction table, the Cardinals won't like where they are located. But they have to win these hard games if they want to get the respect that they think they deserve. So what were the big moves in this week's College Football Playoff prediction table?
Seed | Team | Reason they are here | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | Texas | SEC Champion | 1 |
2. | Ohio State | Big Ten Champion | 2 |
3. | Utah | Big 12 Champion | 3 |
4. | Miami | ACC Champion | 4 |
5. | Alabama | At-Large | 9 |
6. | Tennessee | At-Large | 6 |
7. | Oregon | At-Large | 8 |
8. | Penn State | At-Large | 10 |
9. | Georgia | At-Large | 5 |
10. | Notre Dame | At-Large | N/A |
11. | Missouri | At-Large | N/A |
12. | Liberty | Conference USA Champion | 12 |
As you can see, Louisville fell out of the table this week. Notre Dame uses that win to propel themselves back into the thick of things. It was an impressive victory. No victory was more impressive than Alabama's win over Georgia though, and that moves them way up.
Ole Miss falls out after getting upset by Kentucky at home. I never truly believed in them and my feelings are now validated. Missouri is another team I don't have much faith in, but they keep winning. That's enough to get them into the table this week.
Miami looks like the strongest team in the ACC after they survived a scare against Virginia Tech. That's the team that Louisville is chasing at the top. The good news is that they get the Hurricanes at home, so that will make the game somewhat easier.
The next couple of weeks will be critical in determining the future of what the College Football Playoff will be.