Andy Staples adjusts Notre Dame standing in College Football Playoff projections

Following a 41-13 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday, Notre Dame received a lower ranking in the latest College Football Playoff bracket projection from Andy Staples. The analyst shifted the Irish from his previous top-overall seed to the No. 7 seed. This revised bracket also features new entrants in the top-12, including USC and Virginia, while Boise State replaces Navy as the representative for the Group of 5. If these projections hold, Notre Dame would be positioned for a first-round matchup against USC in Los Angeles. Staples noted that his updated top-4 includes two teams not previously listed in that tier. Despite the team's convincing performance against the Badgers, the latest forecast reflects significant movement within the playoff field compared to the initial August outlook.

• 1:45 PMYahoo Sports — Expert drops Notre Dame in projected College Football Playoff bracket