The college football season’s finally hit its peak, and the Notre Dame vs. Miami debate is getting intense as we inch closer to the last College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. Both teams have been impressive—Miami even beat Notre Dame in their head-to-head this year.
Still, the CFP committee looks ready to give the nod to Notre Dame, which has a lot of folks scratching their heads. If you’re craving more details, you can check out the full article on the New York Times.
The Notre Dame vs. Miami Debate
This debate’s been a hot topic all season. Both squads have dominated at times, but Miami’s win over Notre Dame should mean something, right?
Even so, the CFP committee seems to be leaning Notre Dame’s way. That really makes you wonder what matters most in these rankings.
Head-to-Head Matchup
The head-to-head game is a big deal here. Miami beat Notre Dame straight up—not much gray area there.
It’s a pretty glaring result for the committee to overlook, and honestly, it’s sparked a lot of heated takes among fans and analysts.
Common Opponents
Looking at common opponents, it’s a pretty even story. Both teams rolled past Pitt, NC State, Syracuse, and Stanford.
Notre Dame’s top win is against USC, while Miami’s best is, well, Notre Dame. These shared results kind of put them on the same level, but you’d think the head-to-head would break the tie in Miami’s favor.
Advanced Metrics and Rankings
When you dig into the advanced numbers, things get even more interesting. Depending on which metric you trust, the gap between the teams is razor-thin.
ESPN’s Strength of Record Metric
ESPN’s strength of record puts Notre Dame at No. 13 and Miami at No. 14. It’s a tiny gap, but it’s there.
The CFP committee has their own secret sauce for strength of record, but they don’t exactly share how it works. That just adds to the confusion, honestly.
Sagarin Ratings and Football Power Index
Sagarin rates Notre Dame at No. 2 and Miami at No. 6. ESPN’s Football Power Index lands Notre Dame at No. 3 and Miami at No. 7.
So, Notre Dame edges Miami in these rankings, but it’s not a landslide—especially considering the head-to-head result.
CFP Selection Committee Protocol
The CFP selection committee has a set of rules they say they follow. Here are the big ones:
- Strength of schedule
- Head-to-head results
- Comparative outcomes of common opponents
- Availability of key players and coaches
By their own guidelines, Miami should probably be ahead thanks to that direct win. Yet, it feels like they’re setting things up to keep Miami out and reward Notre Dame’s 10-game winning streak.
Conference Realignment Issues
The current conference setup doesn’t help. The ACC title game has Virginia and 7-5 Duke, but neither played Miami or most of the league’s top teams.
It’s a weird situation. Miami, arguably the ACC’s best team, won’t even get a shot in the conference championship or an automatic Playoff bid.
Other Notable Teams and Rankings
While everyone’s arguing about Notre Dame and Miami, a few other teams are making noise too. Texas A&M and Oklahoma have slid after some losses.
Meanwhile, Ohio State and Indiana are both eyeing the Big Ten championship. It’s a crowded field at the top.
Texas Tech’s Playoff Potential
Texas Tech’s season has been wild. They’ve won every game by at least three touchdowns, except for a loss at Arizona State.
If they keep rolling, they could sneak into the Playoff as a real dark horse. Stranger things have happened.
Alabama’s Uncertain Future
Alabama’s in a weird spot, too. They’ve got two top-15 wins, but that loss to 5-7 Florida State and a couple of close calls against South Carolina and Auburn are haunting them.
If they beat Georgia in the SEC championship, they’re probably in. If not, well, it’s tough to see them making the cut.
Conclusion
The final CFP rankings are about to drop, and you can already feel the sparks flying. There’s just no way people won’t argue about it—especially when it comes to Notre Dame and Miami.
Honestly, the whole debate really shows how messy the ranking process can get. Some folks point to advanced stats and head-to-head wins for Miami, but the committee seems to be leaning Notre Dame’s way.
It’s tough to say if the system’s working like it should. Maybe it’s time to rethink how these conferences and rankings work. Shouldn’t the best teams actually get their shot at the title?
Want to dig deeper? Check out the full article at the New York Times.
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