The college football playoff scenario is getting complicated for those who have a hard time micro-analyzing the details. But it’s fun for those who enjoy picking up the nitty gritty and giving their football freak heads a shake-up. For Notre Dame, the team and the fans have set their eyes on a not-so-difficult playoff path. The wait will be partly over this weekend when a deciding win for the Fighting Irish will hand them a coveted top seed. What is the reality of their chance? Let’s see it from the experts’ lens.

Notre Dame’s offense wasn’t at its best since its first drive against Florida State. They need to take good care of the offense to secure some luck against Virginia. An early momentum (putting touchdowns on a few early possessions) against the Cavaliers will give them a much-needed confidence boost. After their poor fall against Northern Illinois early in the season, you might doubt the feasibility of the idea, but Pat McAfee thinks they have what it takes to pull out an upset on the groove. ‘‘They are currently a top  25 team. That’s a big deal. I think whenever they are looking at the strength of the schedule and we all know coming into this year, they don’t have an opportunity to be one of the champions because they are independent.’‘

But Riley Leonard is really doing a great job. In the team’s steadfast rise in the offense, his dual-threat prowess has been instrumental. In this season, he touched the landmark of being the first-ever Irish QB to rack up back-to-back 100 yards in the 23 years of history. Beating up the drums, McAfee noted, ”Leonard has had 21 total touchdowns, one interception you talk about back-to-back weeks with 50 points. I think they are putting football judgment out there. ”

The broadcasting mogul didn’t really hand them the room to make mistakes or go ready. All he said was they had a decent chance to clinch a victory. After all, not many teams have an asset like Leonard, who can hit the trigger button to any strict defense with his on-point game instinct and unmatched athleticism. Believe ‘Leonard Leap’ can turn things around for a struggling Notre Dame.

However, to play the card right, the Fighting Irish need to opt for the big plays against Virginia’s pass defense. Here again, Leonard will have to showcase his celebrated decision-making ability, getting the ba-l out on time. However, coach Marcus Freeman doesn’t mind even if his team can’t crack the playoff amidst the bias controversy.

Marcus Freeman’s long-standing vision stretches beyond a playoff spot

Of course, like any other coach on the roster, Freeman has high hopes to take his team to the playoff radar. But then again, he sees the bigger picture as a true visionary. The coach had a whirlwind ride since he took the chair. Speaking the good, we have seen some unexpected yet stunning plays against the fourth-ranked Clemson team in 2022 or pulling an upset over Texas A&M as an underdog.

The list could have been longer, but the unfortunate moments called for some attention as well. Freeman dropped the bal-s against some coveted opponents like Marshall, Stanford, and many more, despite being a home favorite. So, the record book showed heavy fluctuation, convincing us not to rely on his flair. But wait, do you know that Freeman established Notre Dame as the best ATS team in the country since his arrival in South Bend in 2022?

But despite facing those ups and downs, Freeman has his vision straight. ‘‘No matter if we were in the playoff hunt or not, it’s the same mindset we have. The challenge for myself and our program is consistency. That, to me, the greatest sign of greatness is consistency.”

What’s your take on Pat McAfee advocating for Notre Dame’s strength ahead of the big week 13?