Notre Dame Football: Irish finish 2020 season #5 in the AP Top 25 Poll

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish finished the college football season as the #5 team in the country according to the final AP Top 25 Poll. It was the second time in three years that the Irish ended as the fifth ranked team in the country — both times have come after big losses in the semi-finals of the college football playoff.

Without question the Alabama Crimson Tide were the best team in the nation in 2020, and perhaps the best team of all-time. They were absolutely incredible — but after the Tide — there are many other cases to be had.

The Ohio State Buckeyes — after being beat down 52-24 by Bama — still finished #2 in the country. I suppose that’s fair since their only loss was in the national championship game, but it was also only their 8th game of the season. They had the #122 pass defense in the country, and you’re telling me they don’t have their annual upset game if they played a whole season?

And then there’s the Texas A&M Aggies at #4. What in the hell are we even doing here? Their big win was over a depleted North Carolina Tar Heels team in a third-rate Orange Bowl? Yeah — okay.

Despite the throngs of Irish fans pointing to the Bama thrashing of the Bucks, nothing was going to keep the Irish inside the top 4. It is what it is.