Notre Dame missed the 2025 College Football Playoff mainly because of its early losses and how the committee evaluated similar two-loss teams.
Record and early losses
Notre Dame started the 2025 season 0–2 with close losses to Miami and Texas A&M, both of which eventually made the playoff. Even though the Irish then won 10 straight games and finished 10–2, the committee still viewed those two early defeats as a key negative compared with some teams they selected.
Strength of schedule and comparisons
The selection committee grouped Notre Dame with several other two-loss contenders and weighed head‑to‑head results and strength of schedule. Miami’s head‑to‑head win over Notre Dame became a major separator when the committee directly compared those teams for a spot. Alabama was also chosen despite three losses because the committee judged its schedule and participation in the SEC title game more favorably than Notre Dame’s independent slate.
No conference title game boost
As an independent, Notre Dame did not play a conference championship game, so it had no final showcase to improve its résumé on championship weekend. Meanwhile, teams from power conferences could add an extra quality win or at least demonstrate they belonged in that stage, which the committee clearly valued.
Committee’s final decision
In the final rankings, Notre Dame stayed in the conversation but ultimately slipped behind teams it had been ranked ahead of late in the season. Analysts widely described Notre Dame as the strongest team left out, but the combination of two early losses, Miami’s head‑to‑head win, and the committee’s emphasis on conference title participation kept the Irish out of the 12‑team field.
