Notre Dame football secured a massive leap in the College Football Playoff landscape, surging six spots to No. 5 in the official CFP rankings released on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The Irish (8-1) capitalized on their dramatic 31-24 victory over previously top-ranked Miami, a result that immediately elevated their standing with the selection committee. This climb places Notre Dame two positions ahead of the Hurricanes, who fell to No. 7 after their loss in South Bend, signaling a significant shift in the race for playoff berths.
Marcus Freeman’s squad surges past Miami and Indiana following the No. 1 takedown
The competition for the remaining spots remains intense, with Indiana (8-1) dropping five places to No. 9 after sitting out the previous week. Meanwhile, BYU (6-3) held steady at No. 10 despite a narrow defeat to unbeaten Utah, maintaining their position despite the setback. At the top of the table, Georgia (8-1) claimed the No. 1 seed, followed by Utah (9-0), Alabama (7-2), and UCLA (9-0), creating a formidable upper tier that Notre Dame must now navigate in the final stretch of the season.
Head coach Marcus Freeman expressed approval of the expanded 24-team CFP format, noting how it provides more resilience for teams like Notre Dame. The Irish’s ability to recover from their only loss—a 28-24 defeat to BYU on Oct. 17—demonstrates the value of the new structure. With the playoff picture solidifying, Notre Dame’s jump to No. 5 positions them as a critical wildcard threat, capable of challenging the elite in the weeks ahead.
Source: Yahoo Sports
