Home / Sports / CFP Shockwave: JMU, Miami In; Irish & Blue Devils Out
CFP Shockwave: JMU, Miami In; Irish & Blue Devils Out
7 Dec, 2025
Summary
- James Madison, Alabama, and Miami secured College Football Playoff spots.
- Notre Dame and Duke were surprisingly excluded from the top 12.
- An earlier Miami win over Notre Dame heavily influenced the rankings.
College Football Playoff selection saw unprecedented chaos as Duke's ACC Championship win created a 'doomsday scenario' for the committee. James Madison, Alabama, and Miami ultimately secured their places in the 12-team field, while Notre Dame and Duke were surprisingly excluded.
The committee's final decision to rank Miami ahead of Notre Dame, despite the latter's better season record, has drawn significant attention. This flip is largely attributed to Miami's earlier August victory over the Fighting Irish, a result that appears to have been a critical factor.
Guaranteed bids went to conference champions Indiana, Georgia, Texas Tech, James Madison, and Tulane. The top four seeds, receiving first-round byes, were Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech, setting the stage for the playoff bracket.
