Week 3 Takeaways: Why Notre Dame, Other Bubble Teams Haven’t Popped Yet

Notre Dame and many other teams on the College Football Playoff bubble still have lots of hope after three weeks of play.

Notre Dame's Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (27) celebrates after tackling Texas A&M running back Rueben Owens II during the first quarter of an NCAA football game in South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 13, 2025. Paul Beaty/AP Photo

Tenth-ranked Texas A&M didn’t pop the College Football Playoff bubble of Notre Dame (0–2) with a 41–40 last-minute comeback win on Sept. 13.

Instead, the No. 24 Irish have an outside shot to make the 12-team field despite the start and no conference affiliation. Notre Dame is among the many bubble teams around the country that haven’t given up hope after 2 or 3 games this season.

Here’s a look at the Irish’s chances and other notable programs off to slow starts.

Notre Dame

While the Irish can’t control their destiny anymore, they can make waves by winning out. That’s not impossible since both losses to No. 4 Miami and Texas A&M came on last-second scores.

Notre Dame can regroup on Saturday against Purdue (2–1), and then, the Irish could reel off notable wins on the remaining schedule against Power Four teams.

However, the Irish only have one ranked team, No. 25 USC (3–0), left on the schedule in an Oct. 18 rivalry showdown. Notre Dame will need to win the rest of the games convincingly and need help from other teams to have a shot at the playoffs.

Clemson

Many are writing Clemson’s epitaph amid a 1–2 start and free-fall from the top-25 after a  24–21 loss to No. 18 Georgia Tech (3–0) on Sept. 13.

Georgia Tech upset Miami and Florida State (at least at the time) last year as the Yellow Jackets showed serious potential for a big 2025 season. The Yellow Jackets have delivered thus far with another upset, and the Tigers have time to prove it was truly an upset.

Clemson got into the playoffs with three losses last year because of an ACC championship game victory. Similar to Notre Dame, the Tigers will need to run the table, and that schedule notably includes the No. 7 Seminoles (2–0).

Also working in the Tigers’ favor is the fact that the five unbeaten teams in conference play could all end up losing at some point by virtue of overlapping schedules. That said, the Tigers have no more room for error.

Michigan

The 2023 national champions, No. 21 Michigan (1–1), showed signs of returning to prowess after a 63–3 drubbing of Central Michigan on Sept. 13. However, the Wolverines’ 24–13 loss to No. 11 Oklahoma on Sept. 6 still leaves a lot of unanswered questions going into Big Ten play.

That’s the game-changer for the Wolverines. Michigan still controls its destiny with a strong performance in conference play. While the Wolverines only have one ranked Big Ten opponent in No. 25 USC over the next two months, Michigan can at least close out the regular season with a statement against No. 1 Ohio State.

SMU

Last year’s ACC runner-up, SMU (2–1), has a tough path to the playoffs and only beat FBS newcomer Missouri State 28–10 on Sept. 13.

The Mustangs will likely need to run the table, and one of those games includes No. 4 Miami and fellow ACC frontrunner California (3–0). Before the ACC schedule, the Mustangs need to avoid tripping up against a 2–0 TCU team on Saturday.

Boise State

The Group of Five’s playoff representative last season, Boise State (1–1), hasn’t played since winning against FCS power Eastern Washington 51–14 on Sept. 5.

Boise State’s opening-season flop against South Florida could still be an anomaly, but the Broncos will need to win out to have any chance. The Oct. 4 visit to Notre Dame could make or break the Broncos’ slim chances.

South Florida

Miami left no doubt that South Florida has a long way to go amid a 49–12 blowout on Sept. 13.

That said, the Bulls (1–2) could still become 2025’s Group of Five darlings by winning out and taking the American Athletic Conference crown. USF’s wins over Boise State and Florida still help the cause, but the Bulls’ defining game may come on Oct. 25 against Memphis (3–0), another Group of Five playoff favorite.

Memphis

The Memphis Tigers have convincing wins over Chattanooga, Georgia State, and Troy thus far.

None of those three teams mustered more than 16 points against the Tigers in the process. However, the Tigers got only one shot against a Power Four team this season, Arkansas (2–1), on Saturday.