Are you shedding tears about Notre Dame's playoff exclusion? Really?

“If our lives were that simple we’d live in the past

“If the phone don’t, ring it’s me” – Jimmy Buffett.

Notre Dame sat by the phone waiting but it never rang Sunday. That’s because the College Football Playoff Committee did what Domers think is the unthinkable and decided that 3-loss Alabama belongs in the tournament and Notre Dame needs to sit this one out. In other words, the CFP folks told Notre Dame that the college football universe doesn’t revolve around all that South Bend tradition.

Yes, if life were that simple we’d live in the past but we live in the here and now. Notre Dame hasn’t won a national championship since 1988. Since the Domers last won a national title we’ve gone from the BCS to the playoff and while all the conferences have championship games that more often than not make or break a season, Notre Dame has benefitted from weak schedules and independence.

So, while Notre Dame does have a 10-2 record and the second longest winning streak (10) in the country, no one but no one should be shedding a tear that Alabama and Miami are in the College Football Playoff and Notre Dame isn’t.

Notre Dame’s response? A dandy Nancy Kerrigan impersonation. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy me? Notre Dame which benefits financially from the playoff money even when it’s not in the playoff won’t go to a bowl game.

Oh snap!

Do Miami and Alabama belong? Well, Notre Dame did lose both its games against top ten teams (Miami and Texas A&M) and the closest thing it has to a signature win is over Southern Cal, which would find it difficult to break even in the SEC. Miami beat a lot of nobodies and lost to two unranked teams, but the Canes did beat Notre Dame head-to-head. Alabama may have three losses including one to a bad Florida State team, but the Crimson Tide did beat Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee on successive weekends. The other two losses are to Oklahoma and Georgia.

Should we cry foul about Notre Dame? Absolutely not. Should we question why Vanderbilt or BYU aren’t in? You betcha.

While a case can be made that Alabama and Miami belong in the tournament ahead of Notre Dame, an equally strong case can be made for Vandy and BYU. Vandy won 10 games, six of them against SEC teams. They’ll give the Heisman to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, but there isn’t a more impactful player in the country than Diego Pavia. BYU lost twice, both times to No. 4 seed Texas Tech.

Vandy and BYU didn’t get in, but both of them have a resume that is equal to or greater than that of Notre Dame. Are Vandy and BYU upset that they were overlooked? Yes, and they should be. Have they thrown a tantrum and refused to play in a bowl game? Nope.

And since we’re on the subject of who belongs and who doesn’t, do Tulane and James Madison belong? Well, according to the rules voted on and approved by all the commissioners of the Division I football conferences, yes they do. Will either of them win? Probably not, but what if one or both of them spring an upset? Impossible you say? Stranger things have happened. Lest we forget, the 2006 unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes were thought by many to be prohibitive favorites to win the national championship. Florida blew the Buckeyes out by 27 points and it might have been 50 if Urban Meyer hadn’t felt bad about embarrassing old buddy Jim Tressell worse than he already did.

Just saying.

Is Alabama worthy? Is Miami worthy? Did Notre Dame get jilted at the altar?  Arguments can be made for positive or negative answers to each of those questions. What can’t be argued is this is the system that everyone agreed to play under.

It’s like politics. You don’t like the politics, you vote in people whose agendas you support and bring about change that way. It’s the same with football. You don’t like the system, then you support the people who will vote in a new one.

And if you’re Notre Dame, just remember Jimmy Buffett’s words: If the phone doesn’t ring, it’s me. In this particular case, it's the CFP committee who perhaps lost Notre Dame's phone number. You think?

College Football Playoff top 25: 1. Indiana 13-0; 2. Ohio State 12-1; 3. Georgia 12-1; 4. Texas Tech 12-1; 5. Oregon 11-1; 6. Ole Miss 11-1; 7. Texas A&M 11-1; 8. Oklahoma 10-2; 9. Alabama 9-3; 10. Miami 10-2; 11. Notre Dame 10-2; 12. BYU 11-2; 13. Texas 9-3; 14. Vanderbilt 10-2; 15. Utah 10-2; 16. Southern California 9-3; 17. Arizona 9-3; 18. Michigan 9-3; 19. Virginia 10-3; 20. Tulane 11-2; 21. Houston 9-3; 22. Georgia Tech 9-3; 23. Iowa 8-4; 24. James Madison 12-1; 25. North Texas 11-2

FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS

Friday, December 19

No. 9 Alabama (9-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma 10-2

Saturday, December 20

No. 10 Miami (10-2) at No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1)

No. 11 Tulane (11-2) at No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1)

No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon (11-1)

SECOND ROUND MATCHUPS

Wednesday, December 31

Miami-Texas winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State (12-1); Cotton Bowl

Thursday, January 1

 James Madison-Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1); Orange Bowl

Alabama-Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana (13-0); Rose Bowl

Tulane-Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Georgia (12-1); Sugar Bowl

Associated Press top 25: 1. Indiana 13-0; 2. Georgia 12-1; 3. Ohio State 12-1; 4. Texas Tech 12-1; 5. Oregon 11-1; 6. Ole Miss 11-1; 7. Texas A&M 11-1; 8. Oklahoma 10-2; 9. Notre Dame 10-2; 10. Miami 10-2; 11. Alabama 10-3; 12. BYU 11-2; 13. Vanderbilt 10-2; 14. Texas 9-3; 15. Utah 10-2; 16. Southern California 9-3; 17. Tulane 11-2; 18. Michigan 9-3; 19. James Madison 12-1; 20. Virginia 10-3; 21. Arizona 9-3; 22. Navy 9-2; 23. North Texas 11-2; 24. Georgia Tech 9-3; 25. Missouri 8-4

AFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Indiana 13-0; 2. Georgia 12-1; 3. Ohio State 12-1; 4. Texas Tech 12-1; 5. Oregon 11-1; 6. Ole Miss 11-1; 7. Texas A&M 11-1; 8. Oklahoma 10-2; 9. Notre Dame 10-2; 10. Miami 10-2; 11. Alabama 10-3; 12. Vanderbilt 10-2; 13. BYU 11-2; 14. Texas 9-3; 15. Utah 10-2; 16. Southern California 9-3; 17. Michigan 9-3; 18. Tulane 11-2; 19. James Madison 12-1; 20. Arizona 9-3; 21. Virginia 10-3; 22. Georgia Tech 9-3; 23. Tennessee 8-4; 24. Houston 9-3; 25. Navy 9-2

SEC FOOTBALL

(Associated Press rankings)

No. 11. Alabama (10-3): Despite three losses, Alabama is in the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide will travel to Oklahoma for a first round matchup. Oklahoma won the regular season matchup in Tuscaloosa, 23-21 … Alabama is an early 1.5-point favorite over Oklahoma.

Arkansas (2-10): The Razorbacks signed former Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield to a 5-year, $33.5-million deal. In seven years as the head coach at Memphis, Silverfield went 50-25 … Chad Lunsford, formerly of Auburn, is the new special teams coordinator.

Auburn (5-7): Auburn signed new head coach Alex Golesh to a 6-year, $44.25 million deal. In three years at South Florida, Golesh went 23-15 including a 9-3 record in 2025.

No. 2 Georgia (13-1): Georgia will face the winner of Tulane (11-2) and Ole Miss (11-1) in the second round of the College Football Playoff.

Kentucky (5-7): Kentucky hired Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as its new head coach. Stein is a former Louisville quarterback and the son of a former Kentucky football player. The Wildcats signed the 36-year-old Stein to a 5-year deal.

LSU (7-5): Lane Kiffin’s contract is seven years for $91 million plus incentives. Coming to LSU with Kiffin are offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., wide receivers coach George McDonald, strength coach Nick Savage, co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox, general manager Billy Glasscock and senior associate athletic director Thaddeus Rivers … Blake Baker has been retained as the defensive coordinator on a 3-year deal worth $9.3 million … LSU will play Houston (9-3) in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl.

Mississippi State (5-7): Jeff Lebby fired defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler and hired Zach Arnett as the new DC. Arnett was the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State under Mike Leach and was the head coach in 2023 where he compiled a 4-6 record … Despite their losing record, the Bulldogs will face Wake Forest (8-4) in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte.

No. 25 Missouri (8-4): Defensive end Damon Wilson, who transferred to Mizzou from Georgia, is being taken to court by Georgia, which is seeking $390,000 in liquidated damages for an unfulfilled NIL contract. At Mizzou this year, Wilson leads the team with 9.0 sacks … Missouri will play Virginia (10-3) in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2): The Sooners will host No. 9 Alabama (9-3) in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma beat Alabama, 23-21, in Tuscaloosa earlier in the season … The Sooners tied with Texas A&M for the national lead in sacks with 41.

No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1): The Rebels, under new head coach Pete Golding, will play host to Tulane in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Earlier in the season, Ole Miss beat Tulane, 36-10, in Oxford … Charlie Weis Jr. will be joining Lane Kiffin at LSU, but he will remain at Ole Miss through the playoffs as the Rebels’ play caller.   

South Carolina (4-8): Shane Beamer’s offensive coordinator search seems to have focused in on TCU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. It is also possible that South Carolina will hire TCU running backs coach Jimmy Smith.

Tennessee (8-4): The Vols will face Illinois (8-4) in the Music City Bowl … Tennessee averaged 40.8 points during the regular season but gave up 28.8. In the Vols’ four losses, they gave up 165 points.

No. 14 Texas (9-3): The Longhorns will play Michigan (9-3) in the Citrus Bowl … Arch Manning needs 58 passing yards against Michigan to reach 3,000 for the season. Manning has thrown 24 touchdown passes while running for eight more TDs.

No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1): The Aggies will host a first round College Football Playoff game against Miami (10-2). Texas A&M has been established as a 4-point favorite.

No. 13 Vanderbilt (10-2): The Commodores will face Iowa (8-4) in the Reliaquest Bowl in Tampa.

AS THE PORTAL TURNS

Alabama: WR Bubba Hampton

Arkansas: CB: Keshaw Davita

Auburn: WR Perry Eillis; CB Raion Strader; DL Antonio Coleman; LB Caleb Wheatland; RB Damari Alston

Georgia: CB Daniel Harris

Kentucky: EDGE Landyn Watson

LSU: CB Ashton Stamps; WR Kylan Billiot

Mississippi State: S Braylon Burnside

Missouri: RB Brendon Haygood; WR James Madison II; S Caleg Flagg

South Carolina: LB Jaron Willis; WR Emazon Littlejohn; DL Zavion Hardy; OG Nick Sharpe; TE Michael Smith

Tennessee: S Marcus Greene; EDGE Kellen Lindstrom; DL Jamal Wallace; S Boo Carter

Texas: RB Jerrick Gibson; RB CJ Baxter; QB Trey Owens

Texas A&M: LB Tanyon Freibaum (from Oklahoma State)

Vanderbilt: QB Drew Dickey; TE Maurice Veney (from Morehouse)