Category: College Football Playoff

College Football Playoff rankings show: Where to watch, stream for Notre Dame

2024’s first CFP rankings will offer an early look at the playoff bracket for [TEAM] football. Here’s how to watch.

While the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Poll both give us a glimpse at how good teams really are, Notre Dame and many other college football teams really want to know where they stand in front of the College Football Playoff committee.

With the playoff going from 4 teams to 12, it brings a level of excitement that we have yet to see. The expectation is that Oregon will be the top team, as they’ve shown it on the field so far this fall.

After that, it is a mystery, as teams like Ohio State, Georgia, Miami, Texas, Tennessee, Penn State and the Irish all should be safety inside the top-8 when they are announced.

While this matters, it doesn’t as much as it will later in the season when everything shakes out. It is a good barometer for teams, as they’ll know where they stand.

How to watch College Football Playoff rankings show

TV Channel: ESPN

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch CFP rankings reveal live on Fubo (free trial)” link=”https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191261?irad=399332&irmp=1205322&subId1=SMG&subId2=NCAAF&subId3=2024″]

College Football Playoff rankings release date:

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 5

What time is CFP rankings release

Start Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

Notre Dame football CFP rankings projection

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Notre Dame getting ranked inside the top-8, but higher than that isn’t a likely scenario. The loss to Northern Illinois is the worst of the one-loss teams, so that most likely will hurt the Irish in the eyes of the committee.

How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?

For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoffs. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.

How does the College Football Playoff format work?

The top four seeds will be on a bye as the CFP kicks off. The next four highest-seeded teams will host on-campus playoff games as follows:

  • No. 5 vs No. 12, winner will play No. 4
  • No. 6 vs No. 11, winner will play No. 3
  • No. 7 vs No. 10, winner will play No. 2
  • No. 8 vs No. 9, winner will play No. 1

ESPN updates Notre Dame College Football Playoff projection

ESPN projections show that Notre Dame will make the college football playoff.

ESPN writers Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura have updated their projections on whether Notre Dame will make the College Football Playoff — and who the Fighting Irish will play.

Bonagura has the Irish at No. 9 playing at No. 8 Texas while Schlabach has them at No. 11, also on the road at No. 6 Ohio State.

Both have the Fighting Irish losing in the first round.

This is a far cry from a few weeks ago when Notre Dame was considered to be out of the CFP thanks to the brutal, shocking loss to Northern Illinois. But the Irish have played well since then and a dismantling of a ranked Navy team cannot hurt.

Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish players huddle during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Notre Dame jumps four spots in AP Top 25 poll

Notre Dame jumps four spots and is back in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 poll

(This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.)

Notre Dame’s destruction of Navy has given the Fighting Irish a boost in the AP Top 25 poll. The Irish jump from No. 12 to No. 8.

Navy falls out of the top 25, although the Midshipmen did receive votes.

The top 10 is now Oregon, Georgia, Penn State, Ohio State, Miami (Florida), Texas, Tennessee, Notre Dame, BYU and Texas A&M.

Big movers other than the Irish include Texas A&M after it beat LSU — which falls eight spots to No. 16 — Illinois (down four spots to No. 24 after being blown out by Oregon) and Missouri (down four spots after being shutout in a blow out by No. 14 Alabama).

Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates with teammates after a touchdown during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Notre Dame predicted for a 2023 rematch in the College Football Playoff

Revenge anyone?

When Notre Dame football lost to Northern Illinois during Week 2, it looked like they had washed away its chances at making the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag].

Since the defeat, the Irish have reeled off 5-straight wins and have put themselves back into the conversation to make the 12-team tournament. On Monday, USA TODAY’s Austin Cartwright predicted which teams will make the CFP, as Notre Dame was selected as the No. 11 seed.

The first round matchup would be a rematch of a 2022 and 2023 home-and-home series against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes took both games, but there were both highly competitive contests, even though Notre Dame dropped both of them.

The Buckeyes won the first contest in 2022 by a score of 21-10 in Columbus, and it was much closer in 2023, as Ohio State went into South Bend and needed a final drive to get a 17-14 win.

This would clearly be an interesting matchup, but there are others would be intriguing in the first round as well. Cartwright paired up the Texas Longhorns and Clemson Tigers along with the LSU Tigers against the Tennessee Volunteers.

Sep 23, 2023; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) makes a catch as Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Benjamin Morrison (20) defends in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. The catch was reviewed and ruled and incomplete pass and Morrison was given a pass interference penalty. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

As we get closer to the first CFP Rankings, this picture will clear up and we will see where teams really stand according to the committee.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Experts still keeping Notre Dame off the top of lists, blowout versus Stanford aside

Notre Dame still has work to do to get respect.

We’re starting to sound like a broken record, but once again, two top college football experts have kept Notre Dame off of their top 10 lists.

Although one does have the Fighting Irish in the “almost” category.

Once again, we blame the continuing fallout from the Northern Illinois game, though at this point it’s less about that loss than the perception that Notre Dame has only played one quality opponent — Louisville — since.

The schedule is the schedule, though, and while it probably is weaker in 2024 than Irish fans are used to seeing, Notre Dame can only play the team in front of it. Next week it faces a frisky but not unbeatable Georgia Tech team in a neutral-site game that’s in the Yellow Jacket’s backyard.

Florida State was once considered tough, but that team is a mess. Army and Navy are both undefeated to this point but few expect either team to beat the Irish. Even if it wins out, Notre Dame may still be overlooked until it faces USC at season’s end — and even then, the Irish will need a victory over the Trojans.

Joel Klatt did put the Irish as an “almost” in his Top 10 before giving the top five to Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia and Penn State. Danny Kannell, meanwhile, doesn’t have the Irish in his Top 12. He doesn’t list honorable mentions.

Kannell’s top five are Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Miami (Florida) and BYU.

For reference, the Irish are No. 12 in the AP poll.

Notre Dame will need to keep stacking wins — and ones that look like the blowout over Stanford, if possible — to get more respect. Perhaps some other teams need to lose, as well.

Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen (34) tackles Stanford running back Chris Davis Jr. (5) during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Despite blowout win, Notre Dame falls in AP Top 25 poll

What do the Irish have to do to get back in the top 10? Probably beat a stronger opponent than Stanford.

Notre Dame has to be wondering what it can do to catch a break — or if it’s being unfairly punished for a bad day at home against Northern Illinois last month.

Or maybe poll voters just don’t respect the quality of the Fighting Irish’s opponents.

Of course, the Irish could just be collateral damage from other games.

Whatever the cause, despite beating the Stanford Cardinal 49-7 at home in South Bend, Notre Dame slips one spot in the AP Top 25 poll to No. 12.

Despite falling to Oregon by just a point in a nail-biting thriller, Ohio State falls only two spots to No. 4. The Ducks, meanwhile, move up a spot to No. 2.

Penn State moves to No. 3 despite nearly being upset by USC.

Texas stays at No. 1 and Georgia remains No. 5. Alabama doesn’t move even after being nearly upset for the second time this season — the Crimson Tide are still No. 7.

Other big movers include Tennessee — the Volunteers fall three spots to No. 11 despite beating Florida. LSU jumps five spots to No. 8 after beating Ole Miss — and Ole Miss drops nine places to No. 18.

Army and Navy are both in the Top 25, with Army at No. 23 and Navy at No. 25. Illinois is at No. 22 and the Michigan Wolverines are No. 24.

Oct 12, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Joshua Burnham (40) celebrates after an interception in the third quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff chances have improved

New projection should make Notre Dame fans happy.

College Football News runs a College Football Playoff prediction each week, and thanks in part to Notre Dame’s win over Louisville, along with a wild weekend of upsets during the Fighting Irish’s bye, Notre Dame is projected to be back in.

CFN has the Irish hosting Boise State in South Bend on December 21. Not only that, but the outlet has Notre Dame beating Boise State before playing Utah in the next round. It projects Notre Dame to win that game, too, before losing to Ohio State one round short of the national championship game.

Other outlets, including USA Today, also have the Irish in the playoffs, though some as a lower seed that will have to play on the road. And a few outlets still think the Irish are destined for the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Still, at least outlet thinks the Irish are capable of a deep playoff run. That seemed unthinkable after the loss to Northern Illinois.

What a difference a few weeks makes.

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 28: Beaux Collins #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in action against Tahveon Nicholson #23 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 28, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Pundits still a bit cold on Notre Dame despite slew of upsets

Notre Dame didn’t benefit much from upsets, at least not in the experts’ eyes.

One might think that with Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, USC and Michigan losing all on the same Saturday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish might get a bit more love from pundits even though the Irish were idle.

That’s not quite how things have shaken out, despite Notre Dame moving up in the AP Top 25 poll.

Joel Klatt does give the Irish the “almost” treatment, but he still leaves them outside his Top 10. Danny Kannell still has Notre Dame outside of his Top 12.

Klatt goes Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon and Penn State with his top five. Kannell has his top five as Texas, Ohio State, Miami, Oregon and Penn State.

Perhaps the Irish would’ve been placed higher on these folks’ lists if they’d played and won on Saturday. Either way, the rash of upsets is probably good news for Notre Dame — assuming the Irish don’t fall victim to another upset of their own.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Notre Dame jumps three spots in AP Top 25 poll without even playing

Notre Dame moves up three spots without even playing.

Even though the Notre Dame Fighting Irish had the week off, they gained three spots in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, moving up to No. 11.

A slew of upsets on Saturday caused a lot of movement on the poll. The Alabama Crimson Tide dropped from No. 1 to No. 7 after being upset by Vanderbilt. Not to be outdone, Tennessee lost late to Arkansas and fell four spots to No. 8.

Missouri plummeted 12 spots to No. 21 after losing to Texas A&M, which jumped from No. 25 to No. 15. Defending national champion Michigan  slipped 14 spots to No. 24 after falling to Washington in a title-game rematch.

Schools that moved up included Texas, which went from No. 2 to No. 1, and Ohio State. The Buckeyes moved up from No. 3 to No. 2. The Nittany Lions of Penn State jumped three spots to No. 4 and the Oregon Ducks also moved up three spots — they now sit at No. 3. Georgia remains in No. 5.

Miami hung on to beat Cal and moved up two spots to No. 6. With Alabama at No. 7 and Tennessee at No. 7, the top 10 gets rounded out by Ole Miss moving up three spots and Clemson shooting up five spots to No. 10.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Notre Dame picks up one spot in AP Top 25 poll after beating Miami of Ohio

Notre Dame moves just one spot in the AP Top 25 poll after beating Miami of Ohio.

Notre Dame has moved up one spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll to No. 16 after beating Miami of Ohio 28-3 on Saturday.

The top five sees very little movement — the first four of Texas, Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama remains the same. Tennessee moves up one spot to replace Ole Miss.

Notre Dame’s next opponent, Louisville, jumps four spots after beating Georgia Tech 31-19 and is now No. 15. The Fighting Irish will host the Cardinals in South Bend.

Another big mover was Michigan, jumping six spots to No. 12 after coming back against USC. The Trojans dropped two spots to No. 13.

Illinois jumped 5 spots to No. 19 after beating Nebraska 31-24 in overtime while Clemson picked up four spots after beating N.C. State. Big movers in the wrong direction were Oklahoma and Oklahoma State — both dropped six spots after losses.

Boise State enters for the first time, and is now ranked 25. Northern Illinois dropped out of the rankings after losing to Buffalo in overtime at home.

 

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey