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“Ain’t Gonna Cut It”: Stephen A. Smith Fires Notre Dame Playoff Reality Check After Paul Finebaum’s Miami Warning

Notre Dame’s playoff hopes took a sharp turn after a 28–24 upset loss to No. 8 BYU on Saturday, a result that has intensified scrutiny over the Fighting Irish’s path to the College Football Playoff.

The loss, coming on the heels of Georgia’s upset by Auburn, left Notre Dame ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25—but the real stakes are far higher.

With no conference title game to salvage late-season momentum, another defeat would severely limit the selection committee’s willingness to overlook a schedule that includes a looming showdown against No. 1 Miami, currently the top-ranked team in the country.

Analysts like Stephen A. Smith and Paul Finebaum have warned that Notre Dame’s entire season hinges on three critical games: the BYU loss, the Nov.

7 home matchup against Miami, and a Nov. 21 tilt with No.

23 SMU. Smith, who met with the team in August to emphasize these pressures, framed the BYU defeat as a critical misstep, leaving the Irish with little room for error in their remaining contests.

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