Expansion to the College Football Playoff brings all kinds of questions, especially with multiple automatic bids being handed out to conferences. One of them surrounds Notre Dame and how the Fighting Irish fit into the CFP structure. Turns out, the answer is quite nice, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
“Notre Dame is kind of set in all of this, the same way they are set now,” Thamel said. “They’re basically — if they’re ranked in the top 16 — basically the same deal they have now is going to be carried over is the way to think about it. In any of the models, be it a 14 or 16, there is a slot for Notre Dame. Their seat at the table is not being messed with as they go forward. So, there will be an option for the Irish at one of those at-large bids, if, obviously, they perform on the field.”
Performing well on the field is the easiest way to shoo away any doubts. As Thamel mentions, if Notre Dame is one of the best teams in college football that season, their spot in the College Football Playoff will be a safe one. If the field is expanded to 16, they must be ranked as low as No. 16 in order to be included on Selection Sunday.
This comes at a time where teams from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC are going to have a certain amount of automatic bids available to them on an annual basis. A recent report from Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger indicated the Big Ten and SEC would get four, while the ACC and Big 12 receive two. Of course, the Group of Five are set to be represented with one guaranteed seed. Three at-large bids would be up for grabs.
Broadcasters are certainly not going to be upset with Notre Dame being heavily in the mix. All while the Fighting Irish keep what is arguably more important to them than anything else — remaining independent.
“As you know, that’s good for college football,” Thamel said on Notre Dame playing well. “There are a lot of eyes on the Irish. The business overlords approve of the Irish’s involvement. And they still, in a quintessential college football way, have kept their seat at the table with their independence.”
Notre Dame got into the field last season in a 12-team field after finishing 5th in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Head coach Marcus Freeman took his team on a deep run, going to the national championship game.
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