The 12-team College Football Playoff has been a hit in its debut season, but some are calling for tweaks to the format.
While expanding to a dozen teams has been well-received, some fans and analysts argue that the “conference championship bye” rule should be removed. However, according to Ross Dellenger, eliminating the bye isn’t likely to gain enough support, meaning the format is expected to remain unchanged for the 2025 season.
Notre Dame, as an independent program, cannot earn a first-round bye since those spots are reserved for the top four conference champions. Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua believes this rule deserves reconsideration.
Even an undefeated Notre Dame squad would be ineligible for a bye under current rules. This season, the Fighting Irish secured the No. 7 seed with an 11-1 record. They’ve since defied the odds, advancing to the National Championship Game after wins over Indiana in the first round, SEC champion Georgia in the quarterfinals, and Penn State in the semifinals.
Notre Dame now faces the Ohio State Buckeyes for the title on Monday. Ohio State’s own journey has been remarkable, with victories over Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas following their regular-season loss to Michigan, which appears to have galvanized the team.
Kickoff for Monday’s championship showdown is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit calling the action.
