In a recent meeting, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee discussed their decision-making process that ultimately placed Miami ahead of Notre Dame for the last playoff slot. Notably, this marked the first time head-to-head matchups factored prominently into their decisions.

Miami was ranked 12th and Notre Dame 10th as both teams were inactive during the championship weekend. Despite Alabama losing a key game, it remained in its position, bringing focus to Miami and Notre Dame’s rankings.

Hunter Yurachek, the committee chair, stated: “We felt like BYU’s performance warranted Miami’s elevation in the rankings. Assessing the Miami-Notre Dame game was essential in our decision-making process.”

Yurachek also clarified that the accomplishments of other teams, like Duke, did not influence their choice to rank Miami higher. The committee’s framework aimed to ensure top-ranking for teams across various conferences while assessing them against common opponents.

Throughout the season, Miami ended with a strong finish, maintaining a four-game winning streak. They are now set to open the playoffs against Texas A&M.