Notre Dame essentially sealed a spot in the Playoff on Tuesday despite not moving from No. 2 in the latest College Football Playoff committee rankings. The Irish (9-0, 8-0 ACC) still need to get by Syracuse this weekend (2:30 ET; NBC), but presuming expectations of a five-touchdown blowout are not off by six touchdowns, then Notre Dame has nothing left to worry about between now and a likely rematch with No. 3 Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 19.
Wake Forest may not have represented the stiffest of challenges in that interim, but the Demon Deacons at least boast a talented offense representing competent football, qualities beyond the Orange’s reach.