SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- On Thursday afternoon, the College Football Playoff Management Committee,  voted unanimously to modify the seeding and bye policies of the 12-team Playoff for the 2025-26 season.

Previously, the top four spots earned a first-round bye in the 12-team tournament and were reserved for Power 4 conference champions. 

Meaning, Notre Dame could go undefeated and finished as the unanimous No. 1 team in the country and still be seeded fifth in the tournament. 

Now, the top four teams in the CFP committee's final rankings will be seeded in the top four and receive the first round byes. 

"After evaluating the first year of the 12-team Playoff, the CFP Management Committee felt it was in the best interest of the game to make this adjustment," said Executive Director of the CFP Rich Clark.

"This change will continue to allow guaranteed access to the playoff by rewarding teams for winning their conference championship, but it will also allow us to construct a postseason bracket that recognizes the best performance on the field during the entire regular season."

All other operational policies will remain the same for the 2025-26 season:

• The ranking of the teams will continue to be done by a selection committee.
• The teams ranked Nos. 5-12 will play in the CFP First Round with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded institution (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.).
• The four highest-ranked teams will be assigned to Playoff Quarterfinals bowls on Selection Day in ranking order and in consideration of current contract bowl relationships (for example: if the highest-ranked team is from the Big Ten, that team would be assigned to the Rose Bowl Game).
• The No. 1 seed would receive preferential placement based on geography for the Playoff Semifinal site assignment.

The contract for the 12-team expanded playoff model's ends after this coming season.

The CFP Management Committee is comprised of the 10 FBS conference commissioners and the Director of Athletics at the University of Notre Dame,