The NCAA has decided to award the top four seeds in the expanded 12-team playoff to the best conference champions, granting them a coveted bye week. This is a departure from past systems where the four best teams overall, regardless of conference titles, claimed those spots.
Rich Eisen, the seasoned sports analyst and host of The Rich Eisen Show, is fully on board with this move. Known for his sharp takes and occasional skepticism toward the NCAA, Eisen’s endorsement carries weight.
Rich Eisen Applauds NCAA for Prioritizing Conference Champs
This decision doesn’t just tweak the playoff format; it’s a calculated shift with big implications. It’s a nudge (or maybe a shove) toward teams like Notre Dame to rethink their independence, a boost to the financial stakes of conference titles, and a potential game-changer for how competition is view in the sport. Let’s break it down and see why Eisen’s giving the NCAA a thumbs-up on this one.
The NCAA’s new playoff structure is straightforward and bold, the top four seeds go to the highest-ranked conference champions, and those teams get a first-round bye. In the past, the four best teams, based on the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee’s rankings, took those spots, conference title or not.
Now, winning a conference isn’t just a trophy but a ticket to a strategic advantage in the postseason.
On a recent episode of “The Rich Eisen Show,” Eisen praised this shift, saying, “The reason why they did this is to basically strong-arm Notre Dame into joining a conference,” while adding that the “guardians of college football” got it right for once.
He sees it as a way to reward teams for grinding through tough conference schedules, rather than letting overall records dictate everything. It’s a nod to the idea that a conference title should mean something tangible, not just a banner in the stadium.
Let us look at why this matters, a look at last season’s final CFP rankings before the playoff began. Oregon finished 13-0 and won the Big Ten, landing the No. 1 seed. Boise State, at 12-1, took the No. 3 seed as the Mountain West champ. Arizona State, 11-2, grabbed the No. 4 seed after winning the Big 12.
Meanwhile, teams like Notre Dame (11-1) and Indiana (11-1), both independents or non-champions, missed out on those top spots despite strong records. The new system would’ve locked in this kind of outcome, prioritizing champs over at-large bids for the byes.
Notre Dame’s Independence Takes a Hit with New Rules
But the NCAA’s decision could make that independence a liability, by reserving the top four seeds for conference champs, Notre Dame’s path to a bye week gets a lot tougher. Even with an 11-1 record in 2024, they landed at No. 5 in the initial CFP projections, behind four conference winners. No bye, no home-field edge, and a harder road to the title.
Eisen didn’t mince words on his show: “If you don’t want to join one of our conferences, you don’t get a bye week.” It’s a blunt assessment, and he’s not wrong. The NCAA seems to be sending a message: get in line or get left behind.
For Notre Dame, this could mean rethinking a tradition that’s defined their program. Joining a conference like the Big Ten or ACC might guarantee a shot at a top seed, but it’s a cultural shift that’s tough to swallow for a fan base proud of its outsider status.
The numbers back up the challenge. Since the CFP began in 2014, Notre Dame has made the playoff twice, in 2018 and 2020, as an independent, finishing 11-1 both times. Neither year earned them a top-four seed under the old system, and now, with conference champs locking up those spots, their ceiling might be even lower unless they dominate every game.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
It’s a high-stakes gamble, and Eisen sees the NCAA’s move as a way to force Notre Dame’s hand.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
