Notre Dame Football Bowl Watch: Because Math

If anybody was able to read past the headline without choking or clicking on to another page... I congratulate you and welcome you into the insanity that now fills my mind. I realize the notion of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish struggling to get bowl eligible after 9 games is sickening to some, and to others that same fact added to another fact that the Irish must win their final three games just to do it causes thought of immigration... but it’s reality.

Notre Dame has to win their final three games against Army, Virginia Tech, and USC to play in a bowl game- which any coach in the country (even Saban and Mayer) would say is an immense help for the next season.

So, let’s have another peek at the possibilities using SB Nation’s bowl projections as our guide.

• Music City Bowl VS South Carolina Gamecocks
• Belk Bowl VS Arkansas Razorbacks
• Sun Bowl VS Arizona State Sun Devils
• Pinstripe Bowl VS Maryland Terrapins
• Military Bowl VS Houston Cougars
• Quick Lane Bowl VS Northwestern Wildcats
• Independence VS Ole Miss Rebels
• St. Petersburg Bowl VS Temple Owls

*Bowls in italic are pretty unlikely at 6-6

Not much has changed for Notre Dame’s possible opponent in a bowl game. What has changed is that with a 6-6 record, invitations to the 3 best available bowls the Pinstripe, Music City, and Belk Bowl are quite unlikely.

The most intriguing possibility may be the Independence Bowl with Ole Miss. As craptastic as the 2014 season was, a win over an SEC school such as LSU in the Music City bowl provided some solace. I highly doubt the solace would be as serene with an Independence Bowl win over the Rebels, but it would still be better than sitting at home during the college football bowl season.