SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman sent a clear message to his football team this week: Win Saturday’s game at Stanford, and the playoff picture will sort itself out.
That’s it. Nothing else.
For the second straight year, the Fighting Irish find themselves not only playing a must-win regular-season finale to make the 12-team field for the College Football Playoff but, as an independent program, also without another opportunity to impress the selection committee before the bracket is set in early December.
Freeman wants his players thinking only about the rivalry game.
“You start thinking about the big picture and an uncertain future, that’s added pressure you don’t need,” said Freeman, who is in his fourth season as head coach in South Bend. “This game is the Super Bowl. It can’t be lip service. Your actions have to follow that. If our actions do follow that, I’m confident we’ll be prepared for the opportunity Saturday.”