LSU Tigers

The Audible: Is Notre Dame College Football Playoff material?

Published Aug. 7, 2015 10:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Keep calm, college football fans. The season is almost here. And to make the time pass a little faster, might we suggest listening to a new episode of The Audible?

This time around, Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel. Here’s a look at what the trio of CFB gurus cover:

* Notre Dame came in at No. 4 in SI’s preseason Top 25 and 11th in the first coaches poll. An argument for why they look bound for the College Football Playoff in 2015.

* LSU has one of the nation’s elite running backs -- and a Heisman contender -- in sophomore Leonard Fournette, but not everyone’s impressed with the Tigers. Is Les Miles’ squad not all it’s cracked up to be?

* How fearful should Buckeye fans be for the season opener at a rocking Lane Stadium, given Ohio State will be down four players vs. Virginia Tech? Talk about converted QB Braxton Miller being thrown into the fire at receiver ...

* Should the playoff be expanded? And, if so, what’s the magic number?

And more. To listen to the podcast, click on the embedded player at the top. You can get every episode of The Audible delivered to you by subscribing on iTunes.