Getting into that top 4 is going to be tough for the Irish, but damn they're really playing great.
Saban not too happy with giving up 31 points, and he shouldn't be.
If they go undefeated they'll be in. I don't often agree with Herbstreit who almost reluctantly at the end of the game last night said for sure they'd be in if they run the table. They'll be heavy favorites in all of their remaining games, and unless USC improves a bunch, I don't see any more potential L's on their schedule barring a complete collapse. They've also beaten three ranked teams (two in blowouts), which is more than any of the current unbeatens and more than I believe all the serious one loss teams.
But look at who's left among the unbeatens. Alabama is legit good, but they've beaten one ranked team. Of course they have LSU, Auburn and the potential SEC title game to come. Clemson hasn't beaten
any ranked teams, and only has one more (current #23 NC State) left on their schedule. Georgia's only ranked win is vs. #24 South Carolina, and they have a ton of obstacles ahead. LSU, Florida, Kentucky, Auburn.
Ohio State has two ranked wins and one more on the schedule with Michigan, if they're still ranked at the end of the year. The Big-10 is pretty bad of course overall so they may be just stuck with those two ranked wins but they should run the table.
Then you get into the weeds with all the other potential possibilities. LSU, Oklahoma have better shots than say a Washington or Penn State who haven't beaten anyone good, lost the chances they had to get a marquee win, and don't have any high profile opponents left that would really move the needle. Someone like West Virginia or Texas could make noise.
Long story short if I had to guess today, ND is in along with OSU. I'd say if anyone gets bounced it should be Clemson. No ranked wins (pending NC State next week) and they barely escaped a Syracuse team that just lost to a horrible Pitt team at home. But Alabama and Georgia have a lot of tough games left, so still a lot of football left to play.