CFP changes seeding; Irish eligible for bye

Last Updated: May 30, 2025By Chuck Freeby

Multiple reports say the College Football Playoff is moving to a straight seeding model ahead of the 2025 college football season

In 2024, the four highest-ranked conference champions received first-round byes. Now, in 2025, The CFP will seed teams Nos. 1-12 based on the selection committee’s rankings without the influence of conference championships. That means if Notre Dame is in the top four of the final CFP rankings, it would receive a first-round bye.

Be careful, though, for what you wish. In 2024, all four teams that received first-round byes were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

The five highest-ranked conference champions will still be guaranteed a playoff spot.

Reportedly, the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, who comprise the CFP’s management committee, reached the unanimous agreement necessary to make the change during a call on Thursday afternoon. Some commissioners were hoping to tie the discussion into the bigger consideration of format for 2026 and beyond. No decisions were made on the CFP’s future format, although there has been much speculation that the playoff could expand to more teams by 2026.