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The College Football Playoff committee will be forced to prioritize Notre Dame over more deserving teams in the future. A clause in the CFP’s agreement with the Fighting Irish says it must.
Had that deal been in effect in 2025, Miami would not have made the 12-team field. They would’ve been ousted for an opponent they beat head-to-head.
The final CFP rankings were unveiled on Sunday to set the national championship bracket. Notre Dame was on the outside looking in.
The Fighting Irish was the first team left out. Miami was given the nod. An early September matchup proved to be the difference.
The Hurricanes beat Notre Dame 27-24 in the second game of the season. That result was the determining factor. The Irish will not compete for a national title – or a bowl game for that matter.
That may not be the case in years to come.
College Football Playoff committee must include Notre Dame…
If it is ranked in the Top 12 of the final poll. Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports broke the situation down in a recent story.
In an interesting wrinkle, as part of a memorandum of understanding signed by CFP officials last spring, Notre Dame will be assured of making the playoff if it is ranked in the top 12 starting next year, (Notre Dame AD Pete) Bevacqua tells Yahoo Sports. For instance, if this year’s circumstances unfold next year, the final at-large team (Miami) would have gotten automatically bumped from the field for No. 11 Notre Dame.
Both Miami and Notre Dame were ranked in the Top 12 this year. Miami was ranked higher, which allowed the Hurricanes to slip in for a final spot.
Starting in 2026, a Top 12 finish for Notre Dame will guarantee an automatic bid. The Fighting Irish must be included in the 12-team event, even if it means leaving a more highly rated team out of the field.
That is true should the College Football Playoff expand, too.
If the playoff is expanded to 14 teams and there are more at-large berths added to the field (from seven to nine), Notre Dame is guaranteed into the field if it is ranked No. 13 or better, according to the MOU.
College football fans are upset.
This is wild and I can’t believe this was agreed upon. https://t.co/bJ1MN1fEn5
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) December 7, 2025
Not many are thrilled with the agreement. It benefits one team which refuses to join a conference and play by the same set of standards as almost every other school.
There will undoubtedly be drama caused by this clause. It would’ve impacted the 2025 field. It will affect future national championship races.
This is insane and I hate it a lot https://t.co/Cc2lQSAaLh
— Lucy Rohden (@lucy_rohden) December 7, 2025
Notre Dame will soon get preferential treatment in the College Football Playoff selection process. They will be included over more deserving opponents.
Luckily for Miami, the obligation does not come into play this year. The 2025 Hurricanes will not be the subject of CFP favoritism. Someone else will down the road.