The landscape of the College Football Playoff was dramatically reshaped on a tense final weekend of the regular season, with the Indiana Hoosiers clinching the coveted No.1 seed. The selection committee's final rankings, released on Sunday, delivered a major shock by leaving the Notre Dame Fighting Irish out of the four-team field entirely.
Selection Sunday Delivers Major Upset
Despite a valiant effort in the ACC Championship Game, Notre Dame's 31-17 loss to the Clemson Tigers proved fatal to their playoff hopes. The committee's decision saw the Alabama Crimson Tide claim the No.2 spot after their commanding SEC title victory, while the Miami Hurricanes surged to No.3 following their impressive win in the ACC Coastal division. This dramatic shuffle pushed the Fighting Irish from a presumed playoff berth to the agonising position of first team out.
The final College Football Playoff rankings for the 2025 season are as follows:
- 1. Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Champion)
- 2. Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC Champion)
- 3. Miami Hurricanes (ACC Coastal Champion)
- 4. Clemson Tigers (ACC Champion)
Indiana's Historic Season Culminates in Top Seed
Indiana's ascent to the pinnacle of college football has been the story of the season. Their perfect 13-0 record, capped with a decisive Big Ten Championship victory, left the selection committee with no choice but to award them the top seed. This historic achievement marks the first time the Hoosiers will enter the playoff as the number one ranked team, granting them a perceived favourable path in the semi-finals.
The semi-final matchups, set to be played on December 31st, will see Indiana face off against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. The other clash will pit Alabama against Miami in the Peach Bowl. The winners will advance to the National Championship game on January 11th.
Fallout and Reaction to Notre Dame's Omission
The exclusion of Notre Dame has sparked intense debate across the sport. While the Fighting Irish finished with a strong 11-2 record, the committee ultimately valued Alabama's dominant conference title win and Miami's late-season surge more highly. Notre Dame's two losses, both to Clemson, ultimately weighed heavily against them in the final analysis.
This outcome underscores the brutal competitiveness of the College Football Playoff era, where a single loss, particularly at the season's climax, can derail championship ambitions. Attention now turns to the bowl assignments for the teams just outside the top four, with Notre Dame expected to headline a major New Year's Six bowl game, a small consolation for a season that promised so much more.
