College Football Playoff Alters Seeding Process: Why Notre Dame Emerges as Biggest Winner Under New Format

College football’s postseason has been a topic of fervent debate since the inception of the College Football Playoff (CFP) in 2014. Over the years, fans, analysts, and stakeholders have continuously pushed for improvements to make the playoff more inclusive, fair, and exciting. In response to this feedback and the rapidly evolving college football landscape, the CFP committee recently announced an altered seeding process for the upcoming expanded playoff format set to begin in 2024.

This new format, along with its revamped seeding system, promises to shake up how teams qualify and are matched up in the postseason. And among the programs positioned to capitalize the most from these changes is none other than the independent powerhouse Notre Dame. With a storied history and a national fanbase, Notre Dame’s prospects have historically been complicated by its independent status and schedule composition. Yet, the new CFP structure and seeding process could make the Fighting Irish one of the biggest winners in college football’s next chapter.

This article explores why the College Football Playoff’s altered seeding process fundamentally benefits Notre Dame, how it will affect their path to a national title, and what this means for the broader college football landscape.

The Evolution of the College Football Playoff: From 4 to 12 Teams

The current CFP system, introduced in 2014, features a four-team playoff decided by a committee, replacing the previous Bowl Championship Series (BCS). While the four-team format elevated the stakes and excitement compared to the BCS era, critics quickly pointed out its limitations. Teams with strong resumes but outside the power conferences often found themselves left out, and debates about at-large selections and seeding fairness became frequent.

Recognizing these issues, the CFP is expanding to a 12-team playoff starting in the 2024 season. This expansion is designed to include more automatic qualifiers from Power Five conferences, plus at-large bids that could encompass top Group of Five teams or other highly ranked independents — like Notre Dame.

Alongside this expansion, the CFP committee announced a new seeding process that will significantly alter how teams are matched up, aiming to reward better-performing teams with favorable placements while keeping the bracket balanced and competitive.

Understanding the New CFP Seeding Process

In the previous four-team format, the CFP committee ranked teams from 1 to 4 and paired 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 in semifinal bowls. The simplicity of four teams made the seeding straightforward but also unforgiving: one bad loss or a perceived weak schedule could drop a team out entirely.

The new 12-team format introduces several critical changes to seeding:

1. Top Four Seeds Get Byes: The top four ranked teams receive a first-round bye, automatically advancing to the quarterfinals. This incentivizes finishing in the top four to avoid the early knockout round.
2. Seed-Based Matchups: Teams seeded 5 through 12 will play in the first round, with 5 playing 12, 6 playing 11, 7 playing 10, and 8 playing 9. This traditional bracket seeding rewards higher seeds with theoretically easier first-round opponents.
3. Conference Champions Guaranteed: Each of the six Power Five conference champions receives an automatic playoff berth, seeded according to their ranking. This ensures no conference champion is excluded, a point of contention in previous years.
4. At-Large Bids Flexible: Six additional at-large teams fill out the bracket, which can include Group of Five champions, independents like Notre Dame, or Power Five non-champions ranked high enough.
5. Geographic Considerations Minimized: The committee prioritizes seeding and team quality over geographic proximity when setting matchups and venues, reducing the impact of travel-based regional biases.

This seeding system aims to balance fairness, reward excellence, and produce compelling matchups throughout the tournament.

Why Notre Dame’s Unique Position Benefits from the New Format

Notre Dame’s football program occupies a unique niche in college football. As an independent (not affiliated with any conference for football), Notre Dame schedules games nationwide and does not have a guaranteed conference championship to win. This independence has historically been both a blessing and a curse. It allows Notre Dame to build a diverse schedule and national brand, but also complicates access to guaranteed playoff spots that Power Five champions receive.

Here’s why the new CFP format and altered seeding system benefit Notre Dame the most:

1. Automatic At-Large Access Without Conference Restrictions

Under the old four-team CFP, Notre Dame’s path to the playoff was narrow and uncertain. Without a conference championship, they relied heavily on an impeccable regular-season record, strength of schedule, and committee discretion. One slip-up could derail their playoff hopes entirely.

Now, with the 12-team format guaranteeing six conference champions plus six at-large spots, Notre Dame becomes a natural at-large contender — especially since they consistently schedule Power Five opponents across multiple conferences. If Notre Dame can finish in the top 12, they will almost certainly secure an at-large berth regardless of conference affiliation.

The expanded field dilutes the conference champion priority enough that a strong Notre Dame team with a good record and high ranking can confidently expect an invitation without needing to win a conference title they don’t compete for.

2. Improved Seeding Opportunities with Bye Weeks

The new system rewards the top four seeds with a first-round bye. Notre Dame’s national brand, recruiting, and typically competitive schedules position them to break into the top four more regularly than in the past.

In seasons where Notre Dame finishes ranked in the top tier, the bye week provides a substantial advantage — a rest period and preparation time that was previously unavailable under the four-team model. This bye can be a critical edge in advancing deeper into the playoff.

3. Flexible Scheduling Helps Notre Dame Build a Strong Resume

Notre Dame’s independence allows it to schedule marquee matchups nationwide, often playing highly ranked teams from various conferences. This national schedule boosts their strength of schedule metric, a key component of the CFP rankings.

With the new seeding process emphasizing ranking and record over geographic or conference restrictions, Notre Dame’s ability to face top opponents benefits them in the selection and seeding process. This is unlike some Power Five teams locked into conference schedules where they may face weaker opponents.

4. No Conference Championship Game Needed

Many teams have stumbled entering the CFP because of late-season losses in conference championship games. Notre Dame avoids this pitfall entirely — they don’t have a conference championship game to lose. This means if Notre Dame stays undefeated or has a strong record entering the postseason, they can avoid the risks inherent in a one-game playoff scenario prior to the CFP.

This could give Notre Dame a leg up over teams that might have to play extra games or suffer fatigue/injury in conference title games.

5. At-Large Spot Security with the Group of Five and Independent Adjustments

While the Power Five champions are guaranteed, the new CFP format also provides opportunities for Group of Five teams and independents to earn at-large bids. Notre Dame, with its strong program, national following, and schedule, is likely to be the first at-large choice among non-conference champions if it has a solid season.

This secures Notre Dame’s position as a perennial playoff contender in the new structure.

Potential Challenges Notre Dame Faces Despite Favorable Format

While the new CFP format is a clear win for Notre Dame, challenges remain:

• Increased Competition for At-Large Bids: With 12 teams, more teams will qualify, but competition for top seeds and byes will be fierce. Programs like Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, and others will still be major obstacles.
• Pressure to Schedule Wisely: Notre Dame must continue to build a strong schedule each year. While their independence is a scheduling advantage, balancing tough opponents without risking too many losses is critical.
• Travel and Logistics: Without conference ties, travel demands may increase. The committee’s deemphasis on geographic proximity means Notre Dame could face travel challenges in playoff matchups.

What This Means for College Football’s Broader Landscape

Notre Dame’s emergence as a beneficiary of the new CFP seeding process reflects wider trends in college football:

• More Inclusivity, More Drama: The 12-team playoff creates a more open competition, increasing the stakes and opportunities for top teams outside the traditional conference-champion pathways.
• Balance Between Tradition and Innovation: The CFP committee is balancing historic rivalries and powerhouse programs (like Notre Dame) with the realities of modern playoff demands.
• Independents Gain a Foothold: Notre Dame’s success as an independent may encourage other programs to reconsider conference affiliation or independent scheduling.
• Seeding Emphasizes Quality and Fairness: By focusing on rankings and performance rather than rigid geographic or conference limitations, the CFP encourages a merit-based playoff that benefits high-profile national programs.

Notre Dame’s Golden Era in the New CFP Landscape?

The College Football Playoff’s altered seeding process and expanded format mark a transformative moment in the sport’s history. Notre Dame, long admired for its tradition but sometimes challenged by its independent status, stands to be one of the biggest winners under this new system.

With guaranteed at-large access, better seeding opportunities, and a structure that rewards strong schedules and national prestige, the Fighting Irish’s path to playoff success looks brighter than ever. Marcus Freeman and future Notre Dame coaches can build on this new foundation to compete consistently for national titles.

As college football continues evolving, Notre Dame’s unique position as an independent powerhouse, combined with the new playoff format, may usher in a golden era for the program — one where the Irish no longer have to worry about conference limitations or limited playoff spots but instead focus on preparing to compete on college football’s biggest stage, year after year.