Overview
- CFP chair Hunter Yurachek said the committee rewatched Miami–Notre Dame and used the Hurricanes’ head‑to‑head win to place Miami No. 10 and the Irish No. 11 for the final at‑large spot.
- Notre Dame declined a postseason bowl invitation and, as a football independent, will not face conference penalties for opting out.
- ACC commissioner Jim Phillips defended the league’s promotion of its member schools after Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua said the conference caused “permanent damage” to their relationship.
- Bevacqua confirmed a memorandum of understanding that guarantees Notre Dame a CFP berth if ranked in the top 12 starting in 2026, with a reported contingency for No. 13 in a 14‑team field.
- Programs left out, including BYU, circulated strength‑of‑schedule and strength‑of‑record comparisons to dispute the decision, while Bevacqua publicly advocated expanding to a 16‑team format.