Brian Kelly: Notre Dame Has Nothing To Prove

Coach Brian Kelly says Notre Dame has nothing to prove to anyone in its upcoming College Football Playoff game against top-ranked (and heavily favored) Alabama.

"We're knocking at the door every year, playing really good teams and great opponents, and they're elite football teams," Kelly said. "I don't know why this narrative continues to pop up when we're always in the game. No, we haven't won a national championship. That's correct. And, you know, I'm not changing the record. But we are there every single year, and we are grinding it out just like everybody else."

The Fighting Irish finished 10-1 and are coming off a loss to third-ranked Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. Clemson faces Ohio State in the other CFP semifinal. That game is expected to be close. The Notre Dame-Alabama game ... well, not so much. Alabama is a 20-point favorite.

No matter how it plays out, Kelly says he is proud of the program that he's built.

"Only one team gets to celebrate at the end of the year," Kelly said. "We're going to keep banging, and we're going to keep getting back here, and that's our job. That's our challenge each and every year is to compete for a national championship, and we'll continue to do that."

2020-21 College Football Playoff Dates and Times