Why Notre Dame is ranked higher than Miami in latest College Football Playoff rankings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The penultimate CFP rankings were released on Tuesday night, and one argument has dominated the rest.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMiami and Notre Dame appear to be battling for the final spot in the College Football Playoff, which is intriguing. since Miami beat Notre Dame to open the season. However, the Fighting Irish have stayed ahead of the Hurricanes in the rankings over the past month.
Now, both teams have finished their regular seasons, as neither will play during championship weekend. Therefore, there is nothing either team can do to improve their standing with the committee.
So, where each team fell in Tuesday's ranking is crucial in determining how the committee feels about each team. Here's a look at how the committee ranked both teams.
MORE: How the final CFP rankings before selection Sunday
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCollege Football Playoff rankings 2025
Rank
Team
Record
1.
Ohio State
12-0
2.
Indiana
12-0
3.
Georgia
11-1
4.
Texas Tech
11-1
5.
Oregon
11-1
6.
Ole Miss
11-1
7.
Texas A&M
11-1
8.
Oklahoma
10-2
9.
Alabama
10-2
10
Notre Dame
10-2
11.
BYU
11-1
12.
Miami
10-2
13.
Texas
9-3
14.
Vanderbilt
10-2
15.
Utah
10-2
16.
USC
9-3
17.
Virginia
10-2
18.
Arizona
9-3
19.
Michigan
9-3
20.
Tulane
10-2
21.
Houston
9-3
22.
Georgia Tech
9-3
23.
Iowa
8-4
24.
North Texas
11-1
25.
James Madison
11-1
Why Notre Dame is ranked higher than Miami
Ultimately, the committee believes that Miami's losses are worse than Notre Dame's losses, even though the Hurricanes beat the Fighting Irish. Both teams that beat Notre Dame this year are ranked in the top 12, while both teams that beat Miami this season are not ranked in the top 25.
However, CFP chair Hunter Yurachek told the ESPN panel that the order between Notre Dame and Miami is not set. Boise State, who lost to Notre Dame earlier this year, is playing this weekend, and a Broncos win could strengthen the Fighting Irish's schedule.
Additionally, the debate goes beyond just Miami and Notre Dame, as Alabama and Oklahoma are other 10-2 teams currently in the field. Of course, the Crimson Tide play in the SEC Championship this weekend, and they could realistically be a 10-3 team by Sunday morning.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdditionally, if BYU beats Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship, the Cougars could jump Notre Dame as well. Therefore, Notre Dame's position in the rankings is dependent on the results this weekend.
MORE:College football bowl projections
Who did Miami lose to?
Miami's two losses this year came to Louisville and SMU, who were both unranked at the time of the games. Both teams ended the seasons with respectable 8-4 records as each team is set to play in a bowl game later this month.
Here's a look at Miami's full schedule in 2025:
Date
Opponent
Result
8/31
vs. Notre Dame
W, 27-24
9/6
vs. Bethune-Cookman
W, 45-3
9/13
vs. South Florida
W, 49-12
9/20
vs. Florida
W, 26-7
10/4
@ Florida State
W, 28-22
10/17
vs. Louisville
L, 24-21
10/25
vs. Stanford
W, 42-7
11/1
@ SMU
L, 26-20 (OT)
11/8
vs. Syracuse
W, 38-10
11/15
vs. NC State
W, 41-7
11/22
@ Virginia Tech
W, 34-17
11/29
@ Pittsburgh
W, 38-7
Who did Notre Dame lose to?
Notre Dame lost two-straight games to begin the year, first on the road against Miami then at home vs. Texas A&M. Miami was ranked No. 10 when it beat Notre Dame, and Texas A&M was ranked No. 16, as the two teams combined to produce a 21-3 record in 2025.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, the Fighting Irish have since won 10-straight games. Here's how Notre Dame did in 2025:
Date
Opponent
Result
8/31
@ Miami
L, 27-24
9/13
vs. Texas A&M
L, 41-40
9/20
vs. Purdue
W, 56-30
9/27
@ Arkansas
W, 56-13
10/4
vs. Boise State
W, 28-7
10/11
vs. NC State
W, 36-7
10/18
vs. USC
W, 34-24
11/1
@ Boston College
W, 25-10
11/8
vs. Navy
W, 49-10
11/15
@ Pittsburgh
W, 37-15
11/22
vs. Syracuse
W, 70-7
11/29
@ Stanford
@, 49-20
AdvertisementAdvertisement
