In the wake of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish“s 25-10 victory over Boston College, college football writer Chris Vannini has expressed his discontent with the first rankings from the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. The committee ranked Notre Dame at No. 10, a decision that Vannini believes is unjustified given the team”s recent performance.
Committee chair Mack Rhoades defended the ranking by highlighting the Fighting Irish”s defensive improvements under first-year coordinator Chris Ash, who has managed to tighten the defense after allowing 68 points in their initial two losses. Vannini pointed out that this early misstep has worked in Notre Dame”s favor, allowing them more time to recover compared to other teams that faced losses later in the season, such as the Miami Hurricanes.
Vannini remarked, “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.” He further emphasized his belief in Notre Dame”s capabilities but insisted that they should not be ranked ahead of Miami.
Additionally, Vannini criticized Rhoades” assertion that Notre Dame is a “really, really good football team,” especially following a performance against Boston College that left much to be desired. He stated, “Three days after struggling with Boston College is not the time to make this statement about Notre Dame.”
The special treatment of the Fighting Irish is not unexpected. Historically, Notre Dame has been a prominent program, and their early-season losses have not hindered their ranking as much as they might for other teams. Following a national championship game appearance, it is clear that the Fighting Irish will continue to receive favorable treatment in the rankings.
The fan engagement surrounding Notre Dame is significant, contributing to its status as one of college football”s top revenue-generating programs. This has led to a perception of an uneven playing field, where Notre Dame benefits from a system that appears to favor them over others, allowing them to operate outside the standard rules that apply to the rest of college football.
