The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have stumbled out of the gate with an 0-2 record, but the season is far from over. Let’s dive into what this start means and how the Irish can turn things around.

The 0-2 Start: A Deeper Look

On the surface, Notre Dame's 0-2 start looks like a disaster. The Irish lost their opener on the road to the Miami Hurricanes, followed by a one-point heartbreaker against the Texas A&M Aggies in South Bend. However, these losses came against top-tier competition. Miami is a legitimate top-three contender, and Texas A&M has the talent to stay in the top 10. Context matters, and if Notre Dame can steady itself, this rough opening stretch could end up looking more like an early test than a death sentence.

Where the Irish Stand Right Now

Notre Dame is a mixed bag. On the positive side, freshman QB CJ Carr has shown poise, completing over 60% of his passes and developing chemistry with tight end Eli Raridon. The run game has also flashed potential with Jadarian Price and Jeremiah Love. However, the defense has struggled, with only one sack through two games and a secondary that has been exposed. The good news is that these issues are fixable with more aggressive play-calling and tighter assignments.

The Road Back to Playoff Relevance

The path to playoff relevance is still open. Notre Dame's upcoming schedule is manageable, with games against Purdue, Navy, Boston College, Syracuse, and Stanford providing opportunities to stack wins. The real prove-it moments will come against USC and Arkansas. Starting 0-2 leaves no margin for error, but if the defense can generate more pressure and Carr continues to grow, Notre Dame has a clear shot to finish 10-2, a record that could land them in the playoff.

Betting Considerations

From a betting perspective, Notre Dame’s 0-2 start could create value. The market often reacts more to record than context, so you might see softer lines against middle-tier opponents like Purdue or Boston College. Additionally, the futures market could offer opportunities if win totals or playoff prices reflect panic rather than potential. Notre Dame is better than their record suggests, and betting markets that lean too heavily into an 0-2 start could create value for savvy bettors.

Final Thoughts

While playoff potential is still alive for Notre Dame, national title hopes are a much steeper climb. The ceiling looks like a playoff berth, but anything more would require significant improvements on defense and Carr playing well beyond his years. The season is far from over, and the Fighting Irish have the talent to turn things around.