The announcement of the new 12-team College Football Playoff bracket created a major reaction across the college football world. Many fans, analysts, and former coaches quickly began discussing one of the biggest surprises: the Notre Dame Fighting Irish did not make the playoff. Notre Dame had a strong season, a good record, and a higher ranking than some teams selected. Because of this, people questioned whether the playoff system truly chose the best and most deserving teams. Among the voices speaking out was former legendary coach Nick Saban, who shared clear and strong thoughts about what went wrong and what should change.
Notre Dame’s Surprising Exclusion
Notre Dame ended the regular season with a 10–2 record, which is usually strong enough to place a team inside the top 12. Earlier that week, the CFP committee ranked Notre Dame at No. 10, putting them above the Miami Hurricanes, who also had a 10–2 record. The rankings suggested Notre Dame was ahead in performance and overall team strength.
However, when the playoff bracket came out on Sunday, many people were shocked to see Miami included while Notre Dame was left out. What made the situation even more confusing was that neither team played a game during that final week. Nothing had changed on the field, yet the committee switched their positions. This raised questions about how the committee makes decisions and why the rankings seem to change without new results.
The Role of the Week 1 Head-to-Head Game
One of the explanations given for Miami’s inclusion was its Week 1 victory over Notre Dame. For most of the season, this early game was not considered an important factor. Analysts believed that season-long performance, strength of schedule, and final rankings mattered more than a first-week result. But when the committee finalized its decisions, that head-to-head win suddenly became the deciding factor between the two teams.
This shift frustrated many Notre Dame supporters. They felt the committee changed its own standards at the last minute. Many pointed out that if the head-to-head win truly mattered so much, then the rankings released earlier in the week should have reflected that. Instead, it appeared that the criteria were adjusted only when the bracket was being created.
Nick Saban Criticizes the CFP Structure
Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, one of the most respected figures in college football, spoke openly about the issue. He made it clear that he did not blame Miami for getting into the playoff. Instead, he said the real problem was the way the new playoff system works.
The expanded 12-team system gives automatic qualification to certain conference champions, including champions from “Group of 5” conferences. This year, Tulane and James Madison — two teams outside the major conferences — earned automatic playoff spots by winning the AAC and the Sun Belt. While these teams had successful seasons, Nick Saban argued that they were not as strong as teams like Notre Dame and Texas, who were left out despite having better rankings, tougher schedules, and stronger overall performances.
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Saban Says Three Teams Deserved a Spot
Saban explained that he believed Notre Dame, Miami, and Texas all deserved to be in the playoff based on their season performances. In his view, all three programs had proven they were strong enough to compete with the top teams in the country. Instead of including only one of them, he felt the system should have found ways to bring all three into the playoff field.
He emphasized that college football is supposed to reward the best teams, not simply follow rules that ignore important differences in team quality. Because of the rigid automatic-qualification rule, Saban said the playoff ended up excluding better teams while including weaker ones.
Problems With the Selection Criteria
Nick Saban also discussed how the selection criteria have changed several times over the years. College football went from the BCS system, to a four-team playoff, and now to a 12-team playoff. Each time, the rules were adjusted in hopes of creating a fairer system. However, despite these changes, the process still struggles to identify the true top teams.
Saban explained that most teams are judged using one set of standards — such as record, strength of schedule, and committee rankings. But two teams earn automatic spots simply because they won their conference, regardless of how they compare to other teams in the top 12. This creates what Saban called an “uneven” comparison. Ten teams must meet strict criteria, while two teams get in based on a completely different rule. He argued that this difference hurts the fairness of the playoff and leads to situations like the one involving Notre Dame and Texas.
No Perfect Solution — But Change Is Needed
Even though Saban criticized the system, he also acknowledged that creating a perfect playoff format is extremely difficult. He praised the committee for working hard and trying to do their best. But he also said it is clear that the current process is still not the right answer.
According to Saban, the goal of any playoff system should be to bring the most deserving teams onto the field. He believes the committee should focus less on automatic spots and more on truly selecting the top 12 teams based on performance, ranking, and overall ability. Without changes, the playoff will continue to leave strong teams on the outside while allowing weaker teams to enter.
Conclusion
The debate around Notre Dame’s exclusion and Nick Saban’s comments shows that the new 12-team College Football Playoff still has significant issues to resolve. Fans, analysts, and coaches agree that the system needs improvement. If the goal is fairness and competition, then the playoff must find a better way to identify the very best teams. Until then, controversies like this one will continue to surround college football’s biggest stage.