Talia’s Take: Breaking down Notre Dame’s playoff position

By: Talia Baia

Posted: Dec 4, 2025 8:25 PM EST

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- Notre Dame football fans are holding their breath after the latest College Football Playoff rankings were released. The Fighting Irish dropped to No. 10 with championship week ahead, and the margin for error is now very slim.

Unlike most top teams, Notre Dame does not play in a conference title game. That means the Irish do not have an automatic path to the playoff. Instead, they must earn one of only seven at-large spots in the 12-team field. That makes this weekend’s results across the country extremely important.

If either BYU or Alabama loses, it could open the door for Notre Dame. The tightest battle is between the Irish at No. 10 and Miami at No. 12. Both teams are 10-2 on the season, but their resumes look different.

Miami’s two losses came against unranked teams. Notre Dame’s losses came by a combined four points to No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 12 Miami. Miami holds the edge in ranked wins this season, four to Notre Dame’s two. However, Notre Dame leads the offensive numbers. The Irish are averaging 42 points per game, while Miami is averaging 34.

The debate over which team belongs in the playoff is just as intense in South Florida.

“Miami’s been on a roll since that overtime loss to SMU,” WPLG Miami reporter Brandon Liguori said. “They’ve been rolling on both sides of the ball. And then you’ve got Notre Dame that’s been dominant all season. I love chaos — you have to have Miami and Notre Dame in.”

My take? Notre Dame should not have dropped in the rankings at all. The Irish dominated Stanford last week. Meanwhile, Alabama barely escaped a five-win Auburn team that had already fired its head coach. However, I don’t think a three-loss Alabama team would make the playoffs and I don’t expect BYU to win, especially after losing to Texas Tech by 22 points just one month ago.

If the right kind of chaos happens this weekend, Notre Dame will be in the playoff. And a Notre Dame versus Miami rematch in South Bend in the first round would be must-see football.