Notre Dame has spent the last decade trying to thread the needle of the College Football Playoff system as independent, but the sport’s latest playoff push could change the equation even further.
With the American Football Coaches Association’s Board of Trustees now backing a 24-team CFP and the elimination of conference championship games, the Irish all of a sudden are staring at a postseason future that may be more forgiving.
Currently in the locked in 2026 format, Notre Dame was able to receive something they had always been coveting, a clear path as an independent. They are guaranteed a spot if they are able to finish in the top 12 of the final rankings. A 24-team model, however, would stretch that field even further
From a South Bend perspective, expanding to 24 teams removes all doubt about access. Reasonably any Notre Team that vaguely resembles a top-15 team should comfortably get in. But with greater access comes some trade-offs. With 24 teams, there would be added rounds early in the tournament that would be on-campus. That would increase the physical toll on any team that strives to survive the month-long grind.
The AFCA’s push does not guarantee immediate change, and the CFP has already agreed to stick to 12 teams for 2026. For now, the Irish can rest comfortably knowing if they can live up to expectations of the upcoming season they will be promised a spot in the final 12. And they can view a 24-team bracket as a safety net. One that can lessen their margin of error but also one that will test their program’s ability to withstand the grind.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: What a 24-team playoff would mean for Notre Dame
Reporting by Sunny Verma, Fighting Irish Wire / Fighting Irish Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
