After clinching a 10-2 record, Marcus Freeman and his team finally had their hopes high on entering the playoffs. But it turns out the hopes are now hanging by a thin thread, and BYU holds the scissors. Even though the Cougars trail the Irish at No. 11 in the Week 14 playoff rankings, Notre Dame’s postseason outlook could collapse if BYU manages to swing the momentum in its favor in their upcoming matchup.

“A BYU upset of Texas Tech could put in both Big 12 teams, jeopardizing Notre Dame’s playoff spot,” Ross Dellenger said on X.

BYU’s win against Texas Tech would be a major blow to Notre Dame’s playoff hopes. It would likely force the selection committee to include two Big 12 teams in the expanded 12-team playoff. With a new format that guarantees conference champions a spot, BYU will enter the playoffs, and despite losing to No. 4 Texas Tech, they will still have a strong case for a large bid, as they are in the top 5.

Now, several factors can affect Notre Dame’s chances of going to the playoffs. First, Ole Miss, which is holding a 6th spot in Week 14 playoff ranks, is dealing with the sudden departure of head coach Lane Kiffin, and the committee might knock them off with the “availability of key players and coaches” criterion. So, only a BYU upset can save the Irish’s playoff hopes.