This has been quite the offseason for Notre Dame and coach Marcus Freeman. The College Football Playoff’s decision to alter the seeding and first-round bye process for the 2025 season continues a string of wins for the Fighting Irish that includes an elite signing haul and the news of a 12-year partnership with Clemson for a future series that strengthens their stance as an independent program.
Under the previous format, Notre Dame was not eligible for an opening-round bye as a top-four seed because those were designated for Power Four or Group of Five champions only. Now, the selection committee will have a true, 12-team power rating of the nation’s best at least for the upcoming campaign.
Last season, the Fighting Irish “changed the narrative” under Freeman with three playoff victories before falling to Ohio State in the national championship game. As the No. 6 seed following an 11-1 finish in the regular season, Notre Dame handled Indiana in the opening round, beat SEC champion Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and then outlasted Penn State in the Orange Bowl semifinal to reach Atlanta.
2025 College Football Playoff projections: How 12-team bracket shakes out as leaders approve straight seeding
Brad Crawford
“We’ve been on a three-game playoff streak, and before this year, it was unfathomable for us to even win a playoff game,” defensive lineman Howard Cross III said after losing to the Buckeyes in January. “We beat three straight great teams. We couldn’t finish, but we’ve changed the narrative of who we are as a program.”
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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-alters-seeding-process-why-notre-dame-emerges-as-biggest-winner-under-new-format/
Author : Brad Crawford
Publish date : 2025-05-23 13:31:00
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