Notre Dame football: 5 things to know for Dec. 3, 2022

Welcome to college football’s championship weekend.  If you missed Friday night then you missed a fun one. Utah went on a 44-7 run to beat USC. 47-24. The loss certainly ends USC’s hopes for the College Football Playoff while Ohio State appears back in. We’ll know more as Saturday progresses.

Friday was a huge day for the future of Notre Dame, however. The big news came early in the afternoon when Drew Pyne announced he was entering the transfer portal. No, not after the bowl game. Right away.

Pyne’s decision along with USC’s loss are just a two of the five things you need to know for Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.

Men's basketball opens ACC slate

Nov. 30, 2022; South Bend, Indiana; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Cormac Ryan (5) celebrates after a three point basket in the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at the Purcell Pavilion. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Fresh off a big win Wednesday night over No. 20 Michigan State, Notre Dame looks to open ACC play with a win on Saturday. The Irish (6-1) welcome Syracuse to South Bend with the tip set for noon EST. Syracuse has struggled to a 3-4 mark on the young season and is coming off a 73-44 home loss to Illinois earlier this week.

USC's playoff chances done!

Ja’Quinden Jackson #3 of the Utah Utes runs the ball for a 53 yard touchdown against the USC Trojans during the fourth quarter in the Pac-12 Championship at Allegiant Stadium on Dec. 2, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. David Becker/Getty Images

As we mentioned above, USC’s shot at the playoffs is over. The Trojans jumped to an early lead against Utah in Friday night’s Pac-12 championship game, but the Utes did to the Trojans what many of us thought Notre Dame would do: They simply out-physicaled USC. The loss takes away USC’s playoff shot and likely sends them to the Cotton Bowl to play a Group of Five opponent.

You just hate to see it.

Change of Bowl Plans for Notre Dame?

USC’s loss to Utah didn’t cause only the Trojans to change their postseason plans, it means Notre Dame can scratch one bowl game off its potential destination list. According to Brett McMurphy, Notre Dame will no longer have a chance to go to the ReliaQuest Bowl is done. It’ll be one of three destinations for Notre Dame.

College Football Conference Championships Today

Nov. 19, 2022; Waco, Texas; TCU Horned Frogs place kicker Griffin Kell (39) and his teammates celebrate the victory over the Baylor Bears after Kell kicks the game winning field goal against the Bears as time expires at McLane Stadium. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Is the group of four teams that will be in the College Football Playoff already set after USC’s blowout loss? Georgia is unbeaten and clearly safe as is Michigan. However, is TCU safe if it loses to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship?

I’d like to think it is, but I’ve seen the CFP committee’s love for the SEC hurt the Big 12 in particular before and I’m not certain it wouldn’t happen again, even as much as I’d be against it.

Drew Pyne enters transfer portal

Sept. 24, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) looks to pass in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not a surprise Drew Pyne is entering the transfer portal, but the timing of it might be a little strange. Notre Dame apparently will have Tyler Buchner back for the bowl game, wherever they end up. The Pyne news is understandable, but it is almost like there was this overwhelming belief that he was such a Notre Dame man that he wouldn’t dare go elsewhere to get more playing time.

It’s a move that benefits all parties. Good for Drew Pyne, who played his guts out this year. He will not go down as a Notre Dame legend but he will not soon be forgotten either. Good luck at your next stop, Drew!

Related items worth checking out:

How Notre Dame teammates and fans reacted to Pyne’s portal entry

Every quarterback who has entered the transfer portal for 2022-23

Story originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire