Notre Dame Bowl projections after Week 12: Are the Fighting Irish eligible for 2024 Bowl season?

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish came into the 2024 season with bowl-game aspirations. They had the team, the coaching and all that was left was for the performances to reflect the quality of the personnel.

Hence, it's not surprising that the Fighting Irish secured bowl game eligibility in record time. Notre Dame has a 9-1 record and is poised to make a splash in the postseason.

Let's examine the Fighting Irish's bowl game eligibility, the bowl game they'll most likely play in, and their remaining schedule for the season.

Notre Dame Bowl Projections 2024

According to Sports Illustrated, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish aren't just bowl game eligible; they're a shoo-in to make the expanded college football playoffs. The Fighting Irish have lost one game all season and are ranked No. 6 by the AP Poll.

The Fighting Irish had a couple of projections from the major CFB experts. College Football News, USA TODAY Sports and Action Network have Notre Dame up against the Indiana Hoosiers in round one of the College Football Playoffs.

Sports Illustrated also sees the Fighting Irish qualifying for the expanded college football playoffs. However, they are projecting the team's opponents to be the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round.

247Sports has the Fighting Irish making the expanded playoffs. However, they're up against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first round. They couldn't have asked for a more challenging start to the postseason if they come up against Kalen DeBoer's team.

What bowl game will Notre Dame play in?

Barring a collapse in their final two games of the season, the Fighting Irish will qualify for the college football playoffs. The program has played phenomenal football this season, securing wins over the Florida State Seminoles, Navy Midshipmen, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Texas A&M Aggies, and more. Their only loss of the season was against the Northern Illinois Huskies in a close-fought matchup.

Hence, the Fighting Irish have lived up to their preseason expectations, and the next goal is to pull off an improbable postseason run. With the way they've played in 2024, it'll be hard to dismiss them as contenders come December.

Notre Dame Football Schedule: Key games remaining

Here's a look at the Fighting Irish's final games of the 2024 college football season:

• versus the Army West Point Black Knights on November 23, 2024.
• at the USC Trojans on November 30, 2024.