Notre Dame listed at No. 3 in CFB Playoff Rankings (Nov. 27)

With playoff talk officially getting underway three weeks ago on Oct. 30, it’s now the most interesting time of the College Football season.

On Tuesday, the latest College Football Playoff Rankings were released and Notre Dame remained at No. 3 for the fourth consecutive week.

The Fighting Irish checked in at No. 4 during the Oct. 30 release of the rankings, but jumped up a spot in the second release. Notre Dame then stayed at No. 3 during the third, fourth and fifth releases. In addition, the Fighting Irish remain listed at No. 3 according to the Associated Press Top 25 rankings and the Coaches Poll.

Notre Dame, which opened the year as the No. 12 team in the country, were able to get a season-opening win over Michigan, 24-17. The Wolverines were ranked No. 14 at the time.

Notre Dame went on to defeat Ball State, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest in consecutive weeks. The Irish hosted Stanford, which was ranked No. 7 at the time, and took down the Cardinal, 38-17.

Following that big home victory, Notre Dame went on the road and took on Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The Fighting Irish were dominant during the 45-23 win over the Hokies, which were ranked No. 24 at the time of kickoff.

After a win over Pittsburgh, the Irish headed into the bye week. Notre Dame returned to the field this past weekend against Navy and was able to get a 44-22 win on the road in San Diego.

Notre Dame then hit the road and took down Northwestern, 31-21. A tremendous effort in the second half allowed the Fighting Irish to pull away and get the double-digit victory.

This past weekend, Notre Dame put on a show in a dominant victory over Florida State, 42-13. The outcome was never in doubt, as the Irish looked like a legitimate National Championship contender in South Bend on Saturday.

Over the weekend, Notre Dame traveled to Yankee Stadium and dominated Syracuse, 36-3. It was an outstanding effort on both sides of the ball.

Things wrapped up this past Saturday, as Notre Dame went into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and defeated the USC Trojans, 24-17. It was the culmination of the perfect 12-0 season for the Fighting Irish. That win should firmly secure Notre Dame’s place in the College Football Playoff.

Here is the Top 25 for the College Football Playoff rankings (Nov. 27):

1) Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0)

2) Clemson Tigers (12-0)

3) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-0)

4) Georgia Bulldogs (11-1)

5) Oklahoma Sooners (11-1)

6) Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1)

7) Michigan Wolverines (10-2)

8) UCF Knights (9-0)

9) Florida Gators (9-3)

10) LSU Tigers (9-3)

11) Washington Huskies (9-3)

12) Penn State Nittany Lions (9-3)

13) Washington State Cougars (10-2)

14) Texas Longhorns (9-3)

15) Kentucky Wildcats (9-3)

16) West Virginia Mountaineers (8-3)

17) Utah Utes (9-3)

18) Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4)

19) Texas A&M Aggies (8-4)

20) Syracuse Orange (9-3)

21) Northwestern Wildcats (8-4)

22) Boise State Broncos (10-2)

23) Iowa State Cyclones (7-4)

24) Missouri Tigers (8-4)

25) Fresno State Bulldogs (10-2)