Bold claim: the ACC’s overhyped move to crown a flawed champion destabilized the College Football Playoff and sidelined Notre Dame from the 12-team field. Democracy Dies in Darkness.
College Football
The ripple effects of a bloated conference declaring an illogical champion have cost the Fighting Irish a spot in the national championship picture.
December 8, 2025 at 8:23 a.m. EST
Guest column by Steven Godfrey
In just its second year under the current 12-team playoff format, the landscape is already shifting. Three programs in contention this season are being led by coaches who are departing (or have already departed) for new roles, including two programs from outside the Power Five mega-conferences. Yet amid this churn, Notre Dame, a formidable 10-2 team, finds itself excluded from the field that determines the national champion.
This exclusion underscores a broader tension: a system increasingly driven by turnover, prestige, and political maneuvering rather than simple merit. The result is a playoff picture that rewards timing and narrative preservation over consistent excellence on the field.
As discussions continue, the core question remains: should a team with a strong résumé—two losses that season notwithstanding—be kept out in favor of programs shaped by coaching changes and conference dynamics? And what does this mean for the integrity and future evolution of the postseason?
What are your thoughts on Notre Dame’s omission and the governance of the playoff format? Is there a fair balance to strike between tradition, performance, and the shifting alliances of modern college football? Share your perspective in the comments.
