Do not see the Irish as a playoff team. They did not play Clemson, NCSU, Wake or Pitt - the four middling but top teams in the ACC. They lost to one of only two good teams on their schedule. Top win was against 3-loss Wisconsin.
Leaning to OK State as team #4 if they win out. They will be pressed to beat Sooners two games in a row.
This is UGA's year if they do not choke vs. Bama.
Forecasted Playoffs: UGA MICH CINCY OK ST
MICH and UGA look close to locks. If BAMA beats UGA in SEC conf. championship, CINCY or OK ST gets the boot.
First things first. Although Notre Dame is the only school in the country that can decide if they play as part of a conference ,or as an independent, they are not a full member of the ACC in football( Go look at the standings if you don't believe me, (Even ESPN list them as an independent) and they can in fact pretty much pick and choose which teams they want to play. IMO, if Notre Dame is to get in they have to have Cincinnati lose and Georgia to manhandle Alabama. If the Tide beats the Dawg's both schools are in and that leaves only one school, and that would more than likely be Michigan if they win the Big 10 Title game or OK ST. if Michigan loses. Best chance of Notre Dame being a factor year in and year out is to join a conference, and the chances of that are slim, and none, and none left the building.