Notre Dame finally knocked off top‑ranked Miami, yet the College Football Playoff committee still left the Irish hovering just outside the field.
Key points
- The win over Miami boosts Notre Dame’s playoff odds but does not secure a CFP berth, as the team remains ranked No.11.
- The CFP committee’s ranking diverges from the AP and coaches polls, keeping the Irish just outside the guaranteed top‑12 slot.
- The 2026 selection rule would have guaranteed a spot for a No.11 team, highlighting the controversy from last season’s snub.
- Notre Dame’s remaining schedule is critical; the team views each game as a must‑win to avoid another exclusion.
Notre Dame defeated No.1 Miami 31‑24 on Saturday night, delivering the Irish’s first win over an AP No.1 team since Clemson in 2020, but head coach Marcus Freeman stressed that the result does not change the team’s focus on the upcoming playoff race (CBS Sports).
Freeman had earlier urged his players to use the CFP rankings as motivation, noting that the committee’s first release placed Notre Dame at No.11, seven spots below the AP poll, and reminding them of last season’s last‑minute swap that left the Irish out of the playoff (CBS Sports). After the win, he reiterated that rankings matter only in the final week.
Freeman downplays rankings after win
The victory moved the Irish to 8‑1 and, according to CBS Sports Forecasting and Projections, lifted their playoff probability to 92.7%, yet the latest CFP committee ranking still lists Notre Dame at No.11, while Miami entered the field at No.10 (CBS Sports).
Under the new 2026 selection protocol, any team ranked in the top 12 on Selection Sunday is guaranteed a spot in the 12‑team field, meaning the Irish would have qualified last season at No.11; the committee’s current placement leaves them on the bubble (CBS Sports).
CFP implications of the victory
With two regular‑season games remaining—Boston College and Syracuse—plus a potential late‑season clash with SMU, safety Luke Talich said the team treats every upcoming contest as an elimination game, emphasizing that they must control their own destiny (CBS Sports).
Notre Dame has now won 12 straight games in November, the second‑longest active streak behind Oregon, and aims to avoid another playoff snub by finishing strong in the final weeks (CBS Sports).
Reader questions
What is Notre Dame’s current CFP ranking?
The latest committee release places Notre Dame at No.11, just outside the 12‑team playoff field.
How does the new CFP selection rule affect Notre Dame?
The 2026 protocol guarantees any team ranked in the top 12 on Selection Sunday a playoff spot, which would have included Notre Dame at No.11 last season.
When will the next CFP rankings be released?
The committee is scheduled to issue its next rankings on Tuesday night.
Source: cbssports.com
