Comparing No. 19 North Carolina to Playoff favorites Alabama and Ohio State comes across as hyperbolic on the surface. The Tar Heels lost at Florida State and Virginia; neither the Tide nor the Buckeyes would suffer such indignities.
But North Carolina (6-2, 6-2 ACC) belongs in conversation with the cream of the crop in one particular area: its offense, especially of late. SP+ rates the Tar Heels offense as No. 4 in the country, behind only Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma, two spots ahead of Clemson.
If No. 2 Notre Dame (8-0, 7-0) intends to actually compete in the Playoff this year, it will need to hold up against offenses of such firepower.