Undefeated Miami leads the College Football Playoff committee’s first rankings, while Notre Dame sits 11th despite ranking fourth in the AP poll. The Irish’s thin list of quality wins makes Saturday’s game against Miami especially important: a loss could leave them vulnerable to falling out of the playoff picture.

By the Numbers
  • Miami is 8-0; Utah and UCLA are the other undefeated teams in the top 10.
  • Notre Dame is 7-1 and ranked No. 11; its only loss was 28-24 at BYU.
  • Indiana (8-1) is No. 4, eight places ahead of Ohio State (6-2), despite losing to the Hoosiers 19-15.
  • Alabama (6-2) is No. 5, eight spots ahead of Tennessee (6-2), which beat Alabama by 16 points.
Yes, But

The committee says head-to-head results matter most when teams fall within the same four-team ranking group. It also values the quality of a team’s other wins: Alabama received credit for beating Mississippi State, now 2-4, while Notre Dame lacks a signature win.

State of Play
  • Notre Dame is the last team projected to make the playoff field, with Boise State taking the Group of Six automatic bid.
  • Ohio State is ranked No. 12 and currently outside the projected bracket.
  • The committee cited Ohio State’s defense—not just its freshman quarterback—as a concern after its loss to USC.
What’s Next

Notre Dame faces Miami on Saturday. A win would strengthen its case; a loss could expose the Irish to a rankings slide given the committee’s concerns about their schedule.

Bottom Line

The first rankings reward the committee’s view of résumé strength over poll position or isolated head-to-head results. Notre Dame’s playoff path now hinges on adding the signature win the committee says it lacks.