There is a ton of attention being paid to the prime time match-up between Michigan and Penn State on Saturday evening and with good reason. James Franklin's team is unblemished this season but the Nittany Lions were handily trounced by the Wolverines a season ago and Michigan's games always seem to top the television ratings given the behemoth nature of that program.
However, the battle between USC and Notre Dame should also be quite interesting and, according to Kirk Herbstreit, it is also quite important for the College Football Playoff. The analyst visited with ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike and said the following about the game:
"Whoever wins this game, whoever emerges, will finally get invited to the party. It's like, oh, there you are. OK. You're allowed to come in. You can come over."
His comments were through the prism of the game not getting the amount of hype you would think given the magnitude of the two programs and massive stakes. In fact, Herbstreit declared that "whoever loses is out" and, while that isn't exactly controversial given the records of the two sides, it is a reminder of just how pivotal this match-up could be.
Notre Dame, given home-field advantage, is seen as a slight favorite in South Bend but anything can happen. Buckle up.
