Notre Dame Sits at No. 10: Why the Irish Are Still in the College Football Playoff Mix - and What Needs to Happen Next
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The penultimate College Football Playoff rankings are out, and Notre Dame has landed at No. 10.
That’s not exactly the dream scenario for Irish fans hoping to see their team crash the CFP party, but it’s also not the nightmare some are making it out to be. There’s still a path - narrow, yes, but very real - for Marcus Freeman’s squad to reach the four-team field.
Let’s break down what’s really going on here, where Notre Dame stands, and what needs to happen this weekend to keep the dream alive.
1. Let’s Start with the Harsh Reality
Here’s the bottom line: if BYU wins the Big 12 Championship Game against Texas Tech on Saturday, Notre Dame’s playoff hopes are done. That’s the price of independence - no conference title game, no last-minute résumé boost, and no guaranteed shot at impressing the committee one final time.
Notre Dame knows this. It’s the trade-off the program has accepted for decades.
And even if BYU edges them out for the final spot, that won’t change the Irish’s stance on staying independent. What will sting is the 0-2 start that put them in this position in the first place.
2. Don’t Overreact to the CFP Chair’s Comments
Much of the anxiety around Notre Dame’s position stems from CFP chair Hunter Yurachek’s post-rankings comments. He said the committee wasn’t “comparing Notre Dame and Miami side-by-side,” which sent some fans into a spiral - especially with the possibility of BYU losing and Miami then being the next team up.
But let’s read between the lines. If BYU and Alabama both lose while Notre Dame and Miami are idle, the committee isn’t going to ignore the Irish. They’ll reassess all four teams - BYU, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Miami - in light of the new results.
And here’s the key: nothing about BYU or Alabama losing should make Notre Dame look worse compared to Miami. That’s not how the committee operates.
3. Strength of Schedule Could Still Get a Boost
Notre Dame’s résumé isn’t set in stone. Boise State plays UNLV in the Mountain West title game on Friday night, and the Broncos are favored. A Boise win would improve Notre Dame’s strength of schedule slightly - and in a tight race, every edge matters.
Meanwhile, Miami’s schedule is locked. No more opportunities for them to enhance their profile.
4. The Committee Has Already Made a Call on Notre Dame vs. Miami
Yes, Miami won the head-to-head matchup back on August 31. But the committee has made it clear: Notre Dame has been the better team over the course of the season.
The Irish have stacked up wins, played consistent football, and shown real growth. The Hurricanes?
Not quite the same story. The ACC Network can replay that Week 1 game all it wants - it’s not going to rewrite the full-season résumé.
5. Notre Dame and Alabama? That’s a Real Debate
There’s been some hand-wringing over Alabama jumping Notre Dame despite nearly coughing up the Iron Bowl to a struggling Auburn team. But listen to how Yurachek described that situation: the committee is split.
Some members are in Alabama’s corner. Others are backing Notre Dame.
That tells you everything. The Irish and the Tide are neck-and-neck in the committee’s eyes - not just in the rankings, but in terms of overall quality.
That’s not the case with Miami. When Miami enters the discussion, it becomes a four-team cluster: Notre Dame, Alabama, BYU, and Miami.
But within that group, Notre Dame and Alabama are clearly closer to each other than either is to Miami.
6. So, Who Would You Rather Be Right Now?
Notre Dame or Miami?
It’s not even close. The Irish are in a much stronger position heading into the final weekend. They’re not in control, but they’re in striking distance - and that’s more than Miami can say.
7. Don’t Assume BYU Will Automatically Drop with a Loss
There’s a perception that Alabama could lose to Georgia in the SEC title game and stay put, while BYU would get punished for losing to Texas Tech. But the committee hasn’t shown much interest in penalizing teams just for playing - and losing - in conference title games.
That said, it’s not a free pass either.
8. A Look at Last Year’s Precedent
Last season, all four Power Five title game losers dropped at least one spot in the final rankings. Penn State and Texas each fell one spot. SMU and Iowa State slid two.
That’s worth noting, but don’t assume it’ll play out the same way this year. Different teams, different committee, different circumstances. What matters most is how close BYU, Alabama, and Notre Dame are in the committee’s eyes - and whether a loss changes that dynamic.
9. Marcus Freeman Makes His Case
Marcus Freeman isn’t the type to get political. He usually steers clear of big-picture debates and sticks to what he can control. But this week, he stepped up and made the case for his team.
“We’re improving as much as any team in the country,” Freeman said. “We’ve won ten straight games by double digits.
We have, in my opinion, the best player in the country. We’re playing as well as anybody right now.”
Will that sway the committee? Probably not.
But Freeman was right to say it - and he delivered the message with conviction. This is a team that’s peaking at the right time, and he knows it.
10. What Needs to Happen This Weekend
Here’s the blueprint for Notre Dame to slide into the Playoff:
- Texas Tech beats BYU in the Big 12 Championship Game.
- Georgia beats Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
If both of those results go Notre Dame’s way, the Irish are in a strong position to hear their name called on Selection Sunday. Even if just the first domino falls, there’s a real shot.
The panic that hit the fan base after Tuesday’s rankings? Understandable.
But maybe a little premature. The Irish have already done the hard part.
Now, they just need a little help - and a little luck - to finish the job.