After the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff, it was clear changes were on the horizon, and on Thursday, it was officially announced that the seeding adjustments many expected were indeed coming.
As reported by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the committee will now use a straight seeding system, doing away with the automatic bye for conference champions. Instead, the top four teams will receive a bye in the first round. This shift has a notable impact on Notre Dame, which missed out on a bye last season due to its lack of conference affiliation.
While it likely wouldn’t have changed much last season—Notre Dame was ranked No. 5 and would have had to face Clemson rather than Indiana—it does raise interesting questions. It’s hard to say how that matchup would have unfolded, but most would agree that Notre Dame likely would’ve defeated the Tigers. The Irish would’ve then faced Penn State a round earlier, and we all know how that game played out.
On the other side of the bracket, Oregon would’ve been the top-seeded team, making their path to the semifinals much easier, potentially facing either Indiana or Boise State in the second round.
Notre Dame can get a first-round bye now if it’s ranked in the top four. No longer exclusive to conference champions. https://t.co/VI3lsVc9lb
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) May 22, 2025
While this is all hypothetical, what’s undeniable is that Notre Dame can now qualify for a bye in future seasons. Even though no team this past year secured a win with a bye, having that option is a huge advantage. It allows for an extra week of rest, taking some of the physical toll off the season. While it was entertaining to see Notre Dame play late-night games, now the Irish have the chance to secure a top-4 seed and skip the first round altogether.
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