CBS Sports analyst predicts USC vs. Notre Dame rematch in the College Football Playoff

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LOS ANGELES — In a bold projection that has already sparked debate among college football fans and analysts, Bud Elliott, senior college football analyst for CBS Sports, has forecast that the USC Trojans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish will face each other in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. The prediction was posted on the network’s official social-media feed.

Elliott’s choice hinges on both programs winning out this season and earning top-seed bids in the playoff bracket. The Trojans, under heightened expectations, continue to draw attention while the Fighting Irish have long boasted a national-brand and aspirations of returning to championship contention. Their historic rivalry only adds juice to the scenario: Notre Dame and USC have met for nearly a century, and their clashes often carry ripple effects in the college-football world. 

Reactions to Elliott’s prediction have ranged from “exciting potential” to “over-optimistic projection,” especially given the volatility of college-football seasons and the challenges inherent in guiding two programs all the way to December. 

Looking ahead, analysts will watch for resume-building wins from both squads, strength-of-schedule metrics, and the national-ranking shifts that will inform playoff seeding. If Elliott’s vision comes to pass, it could deliver one of the most anticipated bracket-openers in recent postseason memory — a clash of icons and expectations from the Trojans and Fighting Irish, with the playoff spotlight shining brightly from the very first game.

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