Notre Dame and Ohio State were saved by the College Football Playoff expansion, and we are better off as a result.

Notre Dame and Ohio State Were Saved by the College Football Playoff Expansion, and We Are Better Off as a Result

In the ever-evolving landscape of college football, the College Football Playoff (CFP) has long been a hot topic of debate. Initially designed to bring a more definitive conclusion to the college football season by determining a true national champion, the original four-team playoff format often faced criticism for its exclusion of deserving teams. Two such teams, Notre Dame and Ohio State, represent the epitome of college football excellence, but both have felt the sting of being left out of the CFP in years past. However, with the recent expansion of the CFP to 12 teams, these programs, among others, stand to benefit in unprecedented ways, bringing fresh opportunities and an exciting new era to college football.

The College Football Playoff expansion has altered the playoff landscape for teams across the country, including elite programs like Notre Dame and Ohio State. By increasing the number of teams that can compete for the national championship, the new system allows more deserving teams to have a shot at glory. For Notre Dame and Ohio State, the expansion represents a second chance at redemption, an opportunity to stake their claim as the best in the country without the restrictions that once limited their postseason chances.

The Challenges of the Old CFP System

Before the playoff expansion, the CFP’s four-team format often led to a sense of exclusion, even for teams with stellar seasons. In particular, programs like Notre Dame and Ohio State, which regularly field championship-caliber teams, were sometimes left out of the running for the national title game.

Notre Dame’s Struggles with the CFP

As an independent team, Notre Dame has historically faced significant challenges in getting into the CFP. While the Fighting Irish consistently field competitive teams, their lack of a conference affiliation often works against them in the CFP selection process. Without a conference championship game to add weight to their resume, Notre Dame needed to finish the regular season undefeated or with one loss to be seriously considered for a playoff spot. Despite consistently being ranked among the top teams in the nation, the Fighting Irish have been left out of the playoff field on several occasions.

For instance, in 2020, Notre Dame was selected to participate in the CFP after an impressive regular season, including a win over Clemson. However, a crushing defeat to the same Clemson team in the ACC Championship game dropped them out of contention for the national title. As an independent, they couldn’t fall back on a conference championship to make their case. Their exclusion from the CFP that year highlighted the inherent flaws in the system for teams like Notre Dame, which are often judged more harshly due to their independence.

Another notable exclusion came in 2018, when the Fighting Irish, despite finishing the season undefeated, had to settle for a berth in the CFP semifinals against Clemson, only to be eliminated in a one-sided loss. While that season remains a shining example of Notre Dame’s success, the lack of a strong playoff pathway and reliance on other teams’ performances to secure their spot has been a consistent roadblock for the program.

Ohio State’s Narrow Misses

For Ohio State, the challenges of the CFP system were less about exclusion but more about narrow misses. The Buckeyes have been one of the most successful programs in recent history, yet they, too, found themselves on the wrong side of the CFP selection committee’s decisions on occasion.

In 2018, Ohio State had an impressive resume, including a Big Ten Championship and a 12-1 record. However, despite winning the conference, the Buckeyes were left out of the playoff in favor of Oklahoma, which had a more consistent season and a higher-ranked conference. Ohio State’s inclusion in the New Year’s Six bowl games helped alleviate the sting, but the fact that they were not in the playoff despite an impressive season left many Buckeye fans wondering if the four-team system truly captured the best teams in the nation.

In 2020, Ohio State entered the CFP as the Big Ten Champion, but their path to the national championship was significantly harder because of a COVID-19-shortened season and their exclusion from several key games. While they still made the playoff, their semifinal loss to Alabama exposed some of the vulnerabilities in their team, despite an otherwise stellar season. This defeat showed how even one slip-up or the inability to secure key games could hinder a championship run in the four-team format.

The inconsistency of selection decisions, especially when comparing conference champions to at-large selections, made Ohio State’s path to the championship seem uncertain and filled with potential pitfalls. Had the playoff been expanded earlier, Ohio State might have had more opportunities to prove themselves against a larger pool of competitors and showcase their worth on a bigger stage.

The Expansion: A Game Changer for Notre Dame and Ohio State

The expansion of the CFP to 12 teams marks a monumental shift in college football’s postseason landscape. The new format, set to begin in 2024, will see the top six conference champions earn automatic bids, while the next six highest-ranked teams will be selected based on their overall performance and strength of schedule. This change ensures that more deserving teams, including top independents like Notre Dame, will have a more predictable and fair path to the playoff, regardless of their conference affiliation.

How Notre Dame Benefits from Expansion

For Notre Dame, the expanded playoff format offers a clearer and more accessible path to the national championship. As an independent, the Fighting Irish no longer need to rely on a perfect regular season to secure a playoff berth. They can afford one loss and still have a chance to qualify for the expanded 12-team field. This change eliminates the pressure to run the table every year, which is a daunting task even for a program as consistently strong as Notre Dame.

With automatic berths now available for the top six ranked conference champions, Notre Dame can focus on playing the best teams in the nation while also having a shot at competing for a title with their independent status. The Fighting Irish will be able to participate in postseason play without feeling like they have to overcome the extra hurdle of not belonging to a conference, giving them more flexibility in how they schedule and compete throughout the season.

Additionally, the new format provides Notre Dame with the chance to face a wider variety of teams in the postseason. It removes the pressure of needing a near-perfect record while offering them the chance to continue to build their national brand as they have always done. It’s a win-win for the Fighting Irish and for college football fans, who will be treated to more high-stakes matchups involving one of the most iconic programs in the sport.

How Ohio State Benefits from Expansion

For Ohio State, the CFP expansion opens the door to more opportunities for postseason success. While the Buckeyes have often made the four-team playoff, the new system ensures that they are more likely to be included every year, even if they stumble in their conference championship game or have a bad loss during the regular season. With the increased number of spots in the playoff, Ohio State can now afford to drop a game or two and still have a chance to compete for the national title.

The Buckeyes also benefit from the new automatic bid system, which guarantees a spot for the Big Ten Champion. Ohio State will no longer have to worry about being snubbed by the selection committee if they win their conference but still have one or two blemishes on their record. This is particularly important for a program like Ohio State, where the competition is fierce every season, and a one-loss or even a two-loss season can sometimes leave them on the outside looking in.

The expanded playoff also offers Ohio State more opportunities to showcase their talent against different teams from different conferences. The ability to play teams from the SEC, Big 12, or Pac-12 in playoff settings will enhance Ohio State’s ability to recruit, grow its brand, and test its players in different styles of football. With more playoff games, the Buckeyes have the potential to build even more momentum for their program and reach new heights on the national stage.

Why the Expansion Benefits College Football

The expansion of the CFP is not just a victory for Ohio State and Notre Dame—it’s a victory for college football as a whole. The new format ensures that more deserving teams have the chance to compete for the national title, while also providing more meaningful postseason games for fans to enjoy. This is particularly important in a sport where the regular season is often brutal, and the stakes are incredibly high. The expanded playoff ensures that every game matters, and that every team has a shot at glory, regardless of their conference affiliation or schedule.

Moreover, the expansion of the playoff will create more opportunities for underdogs to rise up and challenge the traditional powers. With 12 teams in the mix, the path to the national championship becomes less predictable and more exciting, allowing for surprise upsets, thrilling matchups, and new storylines to unfold. Fans across the country will have more reasons to tune in, regardless of which teams are involved.