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Newsstand: Where Notre Dame lands in Andy Staples' CFP projection with straight seeding

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble05/28/25jacksoble56
shuler
Notre Dame safety Adon Shuler. (Amber Searls-Imagn Images)

Straight seeding is coming to the 12-team College Football Playoff, meaning Notre Dame is eligible to earn a first-round bye. And in On3’s Andy Staples’ first CFP projection with the new format, the Irish did exactly that.

Staples projected the Irish to earn the No. 3 seed, which would give them a bye to the quarterfinal. In that quarterfinal, Staples has them beating No. 6 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.

“The TV ratings are through the roof for this matchup of bluebloods,” Staples wrote. “But unlike when the Fighting Irish played the Crimson Tide in the BCS and four-team CFP eras, the roster talent is much more even.

“Notre Dame got here in a somewhat similar fashion to last season. After losing to Miami in the opener, the Irish ripped off 11 consecutive wins. And because of the change in seeding rules, they were eligible for a bye. This one goes down to the wire as well, and Notre Dame moves to the semifinals for the second consecutive season.”

Unfortunately for the Irish, their run would end in the national semifinals in Staples’ mock CFP. He has them losing to No. 7 Georgia in the Fiesta Bowl.

“Another rematch from last season’s CFP unfolds differently,” Staples wrote. “Georgia eliminates the mental and special teams mistakes that killed the Bulldogs against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal last season, and they advance to face a Texas team they beat in Athens in November.”

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Quote of the day

“Notre Dame starts the season with games against Miami and Texas A&M, and while the rest of the schedule features plenty of solid opponents (five are projected between 30th and 47th), if the Irish are 2-0 out of the gates, they’re staring a second straight CFP appearance in the face.”

— ESPN college football writer Bill Connelly

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