Notre Dame has written protection for 2026 against the very scenario that kept them out of this year’s CFP

Jeff Hauser

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Notre Dame has written protection for 2026 against the very scenario that kept them out of this year’s CFP image

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua confirmed Sunday that the Fighting Irish won't have to worry about skipping the College Football Playoff in 2026, if they face a similar scenario to this year's debacle. 

Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger that the school’s memorandum of understanding with the CFP, which was finalized last spring, that includes language guaranteeing Notre Dame a berth in the 12-team field if it is ranked inside the top 12. An 11th-ranked Irish team, under the new model, would be locked into the tournament.

The problem for Notre Dame is timing. The clause does not take effect until the 2026 Playoff, leaving this year’s 10-2 team on the outside looking in after falling from No. 10 to No. 11 on Selection Sunday. The CFP selection committee elevated Miami to No. 10, awarding the Hurricanes the final at-large berth based on their 27-24 head-to-head win over the Irish in Week 1.

CFP chairman Hunter Yurachek said that once BYU dropped following its 34-7 loss to Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game, the committee could place Miami and Notre Dame side-by-side and apply the head-to-head tiebreaker. That became the decisive factor in the Hurricanes’ jump.

The episode reignited national debate about Notre Dame’s independence and access, but Bevacqua’s revelation underscores that such razor-thin exclusions will soon be eliminated. However, just not in time to help this season’s Irish.

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