Notre Dame: 2025 Week 16 recap

Notre Dame sits at No. 5 in GIE's rankings with a 10–2 record and a 24.4 rating heading into Week 16. The Irish dominated Stanford 49–20 in their most recent outing, a statement of offensive efficiency that underscored their credentials as a top-five team. That win came in Week 14, leaving some calendar ambiguity about what's transpired since, but the rating holds firm. As an independent, Notre Dame's path to playoff consideration hinges on continued dominance down the stretch—every remaining game carries outsized weight. The model views them as a legitimate contender, though their lack of conference affiliation means margin-for-error is razor-thin.