The college football postseason playground has long been an exclusive four-team party. Under the original College Football Playoff (CFP) format launched in 2014, only the best of the best, often powerhouse conferences, got a shot at the national title. Two semis, one championship, and that was it.
And Notre Dame is used to being there but never being eligible for a top-four seed, no matter how good their regular season was. That is also because, as an independent, they couldn’t be a conference champ, and the byes were for champs only. But it’s good news for Irish fans because that rulebook just got a little rewrite.
Straight Seeding Model Removes Major Barrier for Independent Irish
The playoffs are officially saying goodbye to the old boys’ club. The college football playoffs just changed the rulebook. And Notre Dame might’ve been the biggest winner of them all. In a recent agreement among the 10 FBS conference commissioners and Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua, the CFP announced that the top four seeds would be.
Per multiple reports, the CFP has moved to a straight-seeding model for 2025.
That means Notre Dame can have its cake and eat it, too. The Irish are now able to earn a first-round bye despite not being in a conference. https://t.co/RggjOQzZDe pic.twitter.com/Rd4Rhw9TyB
— Jack Soble (@jacksoble56) May 22, 2025
The top four seeds no longer need a first round. They will now go to the four highest-ranked teams in the country, period. Not just conference champs. Under last year’s format, Notre Dame, ranked No.5, was supposed to host a first-round clash against No. 12 Clemson.
But with the new straight-seeding model, the Irish squad will relax. They will skip straight to the quarterfinals to potentially face a more manageable opponent like No. 4 Penn State instead of Georgia. That is strategic gold—and it gets better.
Notre Dame went on a tear last season, with three straight CFP wins before falling to No. 8 Ohio State in a title-game upset. But had they dodged that extra round, they might have had fresher legs and more prep time. That could have changed everything. So why the sudden change of rules?
Well, every one of the top-four seeds last year was awarded by conference crowns lost in the quarterfinals. Boise State and Arizona State, conference champs but far from elite, looked out of place. And the CFP brass took notice.
This opens the door for Notre Dame. They will no longer be penalized for being independent and will no longer be capped at No. 5. If they win through the regular season, they are in the running for a bye, just like any conference powerhouse.
KEEP READING: Analyst Explodes Over Notre Dame’s ‘Unfair’ Advantage in New CFP Format
Insiders hint a 14- or even 16-team format could come in as early as 2026. For now, though, the 12-team system, with straight seeding, is officially the new normal. So, while the Irish won’t kick off their 2025 season until Labor Day, they’ve already bagged their first big W of the year.
And if all goes right, that long-awaited first-round bye might just be waiting for them under the tree this December.
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