The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee’s recent decision to leave Notre Dame out of the 12-team field has stunned the Fighting Irish community. Despite a solid season, Notre Dame got edged out by Miami, sparking a wave of emotion among players, coaches, and administrators.
No surprise, this decision has kicked off a bigger conversation about how the CFP rankings actually work—and whether weekly ranking shows help or just add to the confusion. Let’s look at some of the main points in this unfolding story.
Notre Dame’s Unexpected Exclusion
On Sunday, the CFP committee dropped their final rankings. Notre Dame, sitting at No. 11, slipped one spot from the week before, while Miami jumped ahead to No. 10—even though neither team played that week.
The Irish community was left reeling. Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua called it a feeling of overwhelming shock and sadness.
The Impact on Notre Dame’s Players and Staff
For players and staff, the emotional fallout was immediate. Bevacqua voiced real concern for the student-athletes, saying the CFP’s weekly ranking shows gave them false hope.
He even called the shows a farce that led to a gut-punch moment for everyone. The disappointment was obvious as the team gathered to watch, only to see their hopes vanish in real time.
Criticism of the CFP Ranking Process
Bevacqua didn’t stop there. He questioned the value of the weekly ranking shows, suggesting it’s time to scrap them altogether.
According to him, the shows stir up false emotions and are just a waste of time. Maybe a single ranking show at the end would be less brutal for the teams. Who knows?
Inconsistencies in the Rankings
This whole episode has thrown some real inconsistencies in the CFP’s process into the spotlight. Miami beat Notre Dame head-to-head in the opener, but for five weeks, the committee’s rankings didn’t seem to care much about that.
In the very first ranking, Notre Dame was eight spots ahead of Miami. Makes you wonder—what are the actual criteria here, and how transparent is this whole process?
Notre Dame’s Independent Status
Notre Dame’s situation is complicated by their independent status. They’re one of just two FBS schools not in a conference, and they’ve got that big NBC television deal.
Still, Bevacqua says Notre Dame is sticking with independence. It’s part of our DNA and just something we accept, he said.
Future Assurances for Notre Dame
There is at least some hope for the future. Starting next year, a memorandum of understanding with CFP officials will guarantee Notre Dame a playoff spot if they’re ranked in the top 12.
If the playoff expands to 14 teams, they’ll get in if they’re ranked No. 13 or better. Would’ve been nice if that rule had kicked in a little earlier, right?
Moving Forward
After being left out of the CFP, Notre Dame’s attention has shifted to supporting their players. Bevacqua and Head Coach Marcus Freeman are doing their best to help the team process what happened.
They’re encouraging everyone to work through the frustration. It’s a tough moment, but the message is all about looking ahead and not letting this define them.
The Irish aren’t giving up. There’s a real sense that next season is another shot, and they’re already thinking about how to get back in the mix.
For more details on this story, you can check out the original article on Yahoo Sports.
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