Gary Barta evaluates Notre Dame’s strength of schedule, CFP chances

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee provided its updated rankings heading into Week 13. After a big shake up at the top, the top six teams are Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, Cincinnati, Michigan and Notre Dame. While the head-to-head drama was finally put to rest by a pair of losses, new controversies are on the rise.

CFP Selection Committee chairman Gary Barta once again joined ESPN’s Rece Davis for a conversation about the Week 13 rankings, taking more time to address the new controversy on everyone’s mind. With Cincinnati’s historic climb into the top four, people across the country wonder what weird scenario could knock them out. Despite their perfect record, talk of their value against the Big 12 has circulated.

Notre Dame’s strength of schedule

Notre Dame’s schedule appeared one of the most challenging in the country just a few months ago, but some disappointing seasons from Power Five opponents has jeopardized the Fighting Irish’s resume. USC and Virginia Tech fired coaches, Navy, North Carolina and Stanford has big drop offs and they’re best win came against an ice-cold 1-3 Wisconsin team.

Gary Barta weighed in on Notre Dame’s strength of schedule and playoff chances during Tuesday’s rankings reveal show.

“Notre Dame’s been building momentum all year,” said Barta. “They play terrific defense, they’re offense has a lot of weapons, a lot of experience there. In the last few weeks they beat Georgia Tech handily – Georgia Tech didn’t look very good – they played Navy, they played some teams that maybe haven’t helped their strength of schedule. But a terrific team, Notre Dame is highly thought of by the committee.”

The lack of a conference championship game limits Notre Dame’s upward potential, although their strength of schedule could get a boost with an upset Wisconsin win in the Big Ten championship. However, the loss against Cincinnati presents a big roadblock regardless of surrounding movement.

Cincinnati’s strength of schedule

Gary Barta also addressed Cincinnati’s strength of schedule, which indludes a win over Notre Dame in South Bend.

“we’ve had a lot of respect for Cincinnati all year,” said Barta. “We certainly have talked about their strength of schedule, but this win against SMU – when we were looking at the way they played offensively and defensively – they came in at No. 4. A lot of discussion – there’s 13 members on the committee – there’s certainly disagreement at times but when the vote came down they were No. 4 and then Michigan at No. 5.”

Davis pushed further, asking whether Cincinnati belonged in a cluster with Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama or Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma State. Barta offered another fence-straddling response.

“That’s a fair question, a good way to ask it. And the honest answer is when we looked at Cincinnati both up with No. 1 through No. 3 and we also looked at Cincinnati comparing to No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7. So they were compared to both groups and they ended up at No. 4.