Notre Dame Well-Positioned in First College Football Playoff Rankings
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish opened the College Football Playoff race in a strong spot, landing 10th in the first CFP rankings — the highest-ranked two-loss team in the country. While it’s only the first round of rankings, the Irish have put themselves firmly in the playoff conversation.
Irish Fans Entered CFP Reveal with Hope and Nerves
Heading into Tuesday night’s announcement, Notre Dame fans were filled with both optimism and anxiety, eager to see how the committee would evaluate their team’s résumé.
The Irish have been on a six-game winning streak, but their two early-season losses created some uncertainty. Would the head-to-head defeat to Miami hurt them? Would two-loss programs like Texas or Oklahoma, or one-loss ACC teams, be ranked higher?
In the end, the committee answered favorably for Notre Dame. The Irish’s overall body of work earned them the No. 10 spot, ahead of Miami, Texas, and Oklahoma. The rankings also reflected the committee’s skepticism toward the ACC, particularly after Miami’s lopsided loss to SMU.
While Notre Dame doesn’t fully control its playoff destiny due to those early setbacks, its initial placement shows that the committee holds the Irish in high regard.
Path to a Potential Hosting Seed
With Notre Dame sitting at No. 10 and several weeks left in the season, a top-eight “hosting seed” remains within reach. Chaos is a given in November — top teams will lose — and if the Irish continue their winning streak, they could climb the standings significantly.
However, any additional loss would derail those hopes. The upcoming games against Navy and Pittsburgh present real challenges: Navy’s unique style always tests opponents, while Pitt has gained momentum under Pat Narduzzi, a coach who has made no secret of his dislike for Notre Dame.
The mission for November is simple: win out decisively, stay healthy, and take advantage of the inevitable shakeups elsewhere.
Notre Dame’s favorable first ranking provides a jolt of momentum — a reminder that the Irish are very much alive in the playoff chase.
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