Chris Vannini, a college football writer for The Athletic, has criticized the College Football Playoff Selection Committee for its handling of the rankings for both Notre Dame and Miami after the Fighting Irish”s recent 25-10 victory over Boston College.
In the committee”s initial rankings released on a Tuesday evening, Notre Dame was positioned at No. 10. Committee chair Mack Rhoades pointed to the team”s strengthened defense under defensive coordinator Chris Ash, who is in his first year, as justification. This defense had previously allowed a staggering 68 points in the first two games, both of which resulted in losses. Vannini highlighted that Notre Dame”s early-season losses allowed them more time to recover, in contrast to teams like the Hurricanes, who suffered defeats later in the season.
“Notre Dame ultimately benefitted by losing its games early in the season. They had more time to make up for it. Even with just one good win, everyone else began falling later when their second losses came,” Vannini articulated. He expressed belief in Notre Dame”s quality but argued they should not be ranked above Miami at this point.
Vannini also took issue with Rhoades” assertion that Notre Dame is a “really, really good football team,” especially following a less-than-stellar performance against Boston College. “Three days after struggling with Boston College is not the time to make this statement about Notre Dame,” he noted.
Historically, Notre Dame has benefitted from a favorable perception within the college football landscape. This trend continues in 2025, even after the team faced early-season setbacks. With a recent appearance in the national championship game, the Irish are often granted preferential treatment in rankings. Their dedicated fanbase and significant revenue generation solidify their influential status in the sport, leading some to describe this dynamic as the “luck of the Irish.” Others see it for what it is: a flawed system that favors one team over others.
