Overview
- Miami rose to No. 10 and Alabama stayed No. 9 in the final rankings, pushing Notre Dame to No. 11 and out of the 12‑team field after the committee rewatched Hurricanes‑Irish and used head‑to‑head as the tiebreaker.
- Hunter Yurachek said Miami’s defense stifling Notre Dame’s run game and perceived athleticism edge factored into the decision once BYU’s title‑game loss brought Miami and Notre Dame into direct comparison.
- Notre Dame announced it will not play in a bowl game, with reports indicating the Irish had been lined up for the Pop‑Tarts Bowl against BYU, ending the program’s postseason streak dating back to 2016.
- Athletic director Pete Bevacqua criticized the weekly rankings shows as a “farce,” expressing shock and sadness and saying the process gave players false hope; coach Marcus Freeman told the team he had no answers.
- Debate intensified over selection transparency, media influence and auto‑bid rules as critics noted ESPN on‑air advocacy for Miami and the inclusion of Tulane and James Madison via automatic berths; Bevacqua said an MOU would guarantee Notre Dame a CFP spot next year if it finishes in the top 12.