Kirk Herbstreit warns Notre Dame could be vulnerable to Miami, BYU in final CFP rankings

Kirk Herbstreit believes Notre Dame fans should brace for a stressful weekend as the final College Football Playoff rankings take shape. Speaking Friday on ESPN’s Get Up, Herbstreit outlined a realistic scenario in which the Fighting Irish, currently No. 10, could be jumped by No. 12 Miami if the committee is presented with an opportunity for a clean head-to-head comparison.

Herbstreit explained that BYU, which is currently sitting between the two teams at No. 11, has been the barrier preventing the committee from applying the Hurricanes’ advantage over Notre Dame. But BYU now meets Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game this weekend, a rematch of a regular-season loss. 

“If Texas Tech beats BYU again convincingly, I really think the committee will set Notre Dame and Miami up,” Herbstreit said. “BYU loses a second time? I think they could go behind Miami. Miami would get within striking distance, and that’s where, finally, the head-to-head could matter.”

Herbstreit emphasized that Miami has been “too far away” in previous rankings for the committee to apply head-to-head logic earlier in the process. Last week, BYU’s placement between the two teams effectively shielded Notre Dame. But that buffer could disappear Saturday. 

“If you’re a Notre Dame fan, you have some concerns,” the ESPN analyst added, warning the South Bend contingent. “Miami is coming.”

Kirk Herbstreit: When it comes to Miami and Notre Dame, ‘head-to-head will matter’

Ultimately, Herbstreit reiterated that the CFP committee waits until it has all data points. That includes conference championship results, before applying tiebreakers such as head-to-head or conference-champion status. 

“If you have two teams that are really very close, what’s the tiebreaker? They played each other? Boom — head-to-head will matter,” he said. Should BYU fall and a tight cluster emerge, Herbstreit believes Miami could jump Notre Dame in the final reveal, much to the chagrin of Irish fans.

With no remaining games and no ability to improve their résumé, the Irish will spend championship weekend hoping results elsewhere break their way. It’d be best for them if the committee doesn’t set up a direct comparison that favors the Hurricanes.

We’ll see what the decision is, but it’s evident Notre Dame is far from solidified as a CFP team. If BYU wins, both the Irish and the Hurricanes could end up on the outside looking in, as well.

There’s a ton of moving parts, and it seems like an unenviable position for the committee at the moment. Whether Notre Dame gets in or not, the Fighting Irish have done all they could do over the past couple of months.