The College Football Playoff field is set, and Notre Dame won’t be part of it. That’s not just a tough pill to swallow - it’s a gut punch for a team that, by nearly every measure outside of the selection committee’s final decision, did more than enough to earn a spot.
The Fighting Irish, who entered the weekend ranked No. 10, were effectively leapfrogged by Miami - a team that didn’t even play during Championship Saturday. Neither did Notre Dame.
But the committee leaned on a head-to-head result from Week 1, when Miami edged out Notre Dame, to justify the switch. And just like that, Notre Dame’s season ends without a Playoff bid.
Nick Saban, now in his analyst role after a legendary coaching career, didn’t mince words when the bracket was revealed. He went to bat for the Irish, calling out the inconsistency in the selection process and questioning how the current system evaluates “the best” teams.
“I think the fact of the matter is, all three of those teams - Alabama, Notre Dame, and Miami - should have gotten in and deserve a right to play in the College Football Playoff,” Saban said during ESPN’s reveal show. “For years now, we have kept tweaking the criteria...and now a 12-team Playoff. Really, I think you’re going to have two teams in the Playoff, and no disrespect to the Group of Five, that are ranked nowhere near as high as the other teams that are much better than them.”
Saban’s point is clear: this isn’t just about Notre Dame. It’s about the broader flaws in a system that still struggles to balance merit, resume, and record. And in this case, it’s hard to argue the Irish didn’t get the short end of the stick.
Let’s talk about the resume. Yes, Notre Dame started the season 0-2.
But those losses came against Miami and Texas A&M - two top-tier programs - and by a combined total of just four points. From there, the Irish didn’t just win; they dominated.
Ten straight victories. An average margin of victory north of four touchdowns.
They were one of the hottest teams in the country, playing their best football down the stretch - which is exactly what the committee has historically said it values.
But apparently, not this year.
The irony? Notre Dame’s willingness to schedule elite non-conference opponents may have cost them a shot at the Playoff.
And that raises a big-picture question for programs across the country: why take the risk? If two early losses to quality teams can derail a season - even when followed by two months of dominance - what’s the incentive to challenge yourself out of the gate?
Meanwhile, the ACC Championship result added another twist. Virginia’s loss to Duke opened the door for two Group of Five champions - James Madison and Tulane - to slide into the Playoff bracket.
Both had strong seasons, no doubt. But are they better than Notre Dame?
Would they be favored on a neutral field? That’s the debate Saban is pointing to - the one the selection committee seems to have sidestepped.
There’s no denying what Marcus Freeman and his team accomplished this year. They battled through early adversity, found their rhythm, and turned into one of the most complete teams in the country. And yet, they’ll be watching the Playoff from home.
Saban called it “devastating” for the Irish, and he’s not wrong. This isn’t just a snub - it’s a spotlight on the cracks in a system that still hasn’t figured out how to consistently reward the best teams.
Notre Dame’s exclusion isn’t just about one team missing out. It’s about what kind of message this sends to programs trying to build competitive, challenging schedules and still get rewarded for playing - and winning - at a high level.
The Playoff is supposed to showcase the best of college football. This year, it’s doing so without one of the teams that arguably deserved it most.