College Football Playoff Adopts Straight Seeding, Grants Notre Dame Potential First-Round Bye

The College Football Playoff (CFP) Committee unanimously approved a new seeding format for the 12-team playoff starting in the 2025-26 season, moving to a straight seeding model where the top four teams receive first-round byes regardless of conference championship status. This change benefits Notre Dame, an independent team previously ineligible for a first-round bye since it cannot win a conference title, allowing them to earn a bye if ranked among the top four. The prior system guaranteed the four highest-ranked conference champions byes, which led to lower-ranked conference champions like Boise State and Arizona State receiving byes over higher-ranked teams such as Notre Dame. The revised format maintains guaranteed playoff spots for the five highest-ranked conference champions but seeds teams strictly by ranking for byes, thus rewarding overall season performance rather than solely conference success. Notre Dame’s athletic director Pete Bevacqua, part of the CFP management committee, supported the change, which also addresses concerns raised after all four teams with byes lost in the previous year’s quarterfinals. The adjustment provides teams earning byes extra rest and preparation time, potentially improving their postseason success and reducing injury risk.