Tying 80 years of history, Notre Dame HC makes eye-opening record with Fighting Irish’s dominant win over Navy

Marcus Freeman's tenure coaching the Notre Dame Fighting Irish has had some ups and downs. At the beginning of the year, when Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois in what will go down as one of the most memorable upsets in the history of college football, Fighting Irish fans thought that the team had hit a low point.

What followed has been a six-game win streak that has Notre Dame (7-1) ranked eighth and in a prime position to make the College Football Playoff. Its most recent win, a 51-14 beatdown of then-No. 24-ranked Navy on Saturday, gives it some cushioning.

With this win, Freeman has tied the Notre Dame record for most wins against ranked opponents in a coach's first three years with 10.

The win over Navy was his third over a ranked of the season along with beating the then-No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies 23-13 and the then-No. 15 Louisville Cardinals 31-24.

Many people were unsure if the Fighting Irish would be able to undo the loss to NIU even if they won every remaining game. They've more than made up for it.

Projecting The Bracket: Win and you're in

Notre Dame has an open week, so it can't do anything to make its playoff chances better or worse. On Nov. 9, it will face the Florida State Seminoles in an expected win that won't have the positive benefit many thought it would with FSU at a shocking 1-7 on the year.

The Irish will have an opportunity at their fourth win against a ranked team later in the season against No. 21-ranked Army, who are doing everything they possible can to stay afloat as one of the top five highest-ranked conference champions. Those teams get automatic bids. That spot, likely seeded No. 12, would currently go to the No. 15 Boise State Broncos, who lead the Mountain West.

If Notre Dame beats Army but loses to an unranked opponent, then conversations get difficult. There are scenarios for a variety of teams to get in with two losses, but certain things have to break.

Freeman's team is already on thin ice for the NIU loss, so depending on the loss and how the game played out, its playoff security could become a real question when the selection committee makes its decision in December.