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

The College Football Playoff (CFP) era has brought sweeping changes to the landscape of college football, altering how teams, fans, and the sport’s stakeholders view the journey to the national championship. While much of the debate around the CFP centers on its structure, fairness, and how it impacts schools from smaller conferences, one thing is abundantly clear: programs like Notre Dame and Ohio State have benefited immensely from the CFP’s expansion. This article explores how the expansion of the playoff has saved these two storied programs, elevating their chances of competing for a national title and, by extension, contributing to the overall health and competitiveness of college football.

1. A New Era of Playoff Expansion: Why It Matters

For years, college football was governed by the BCS (Bowl Championship Series), a system that was often criticized for its inability to give deserving teams a fair shot at the national championship. The BCS was a system dominated by conference champions and often left out highly competitive, yet non-championship-winning teams from major conferences or independent schools. As a result, some of the nation’s best teams were often left on the outside looking in, with questions about their legitimacy lingering in the minds of fans and analysts alike.

In 2014, the College Football Playoff era began, replacing the BCS with a four-team playoff format. While this was a positive change for the sport, the format remained somewhat exclusionary. Only the top four teams, as determined by a selection committee, had a shot at the national championship. The selection process still placed a premium on conference championships, leading to situations where deserving teams were left out in favor of conference champions with weaker resumes.

However, the CFP expansion, announced in 2023, is a game-changer. The move to a 12-team playoff format offers greater inclusivity and ensures that a broader range of teams—both from power conferences and Group of Five conferences—has a legitimate chance at competing for the national title. This change is particularly important for high-profile programs like Notre Dame and Ohio State, both of which were often left in limbo under the previous systems but have found new opportunities to secure playoff berths and compete for national championships in the expanded CFP.

2. Ohio State: A Historic Power in Need of Playoff Security

Ohio State is one of the most successful and prestigious programs in college football history. The Buckeyes, led by head coach Ryan Day, have consistently competed at the highest level and frequently found themselves in the thick of national championship discussions. Despite their elite status, Ohio State was not immune to the limitations of the previous four-team playoff format.

In a given season, Ohio State could dominate the Big Ten, win 11 or 12 games, and still find themselves on the outside looking in, with other programs receiving more favorable playoff positioning. For example, in 2018, Ohio State finished with an 12-1 record but was left out of the CFP in favor of Notre Dame and Oklahoma, despite its superior resume in many respects. Similarly, in 2019, Ohio State lost a heartbreaker to Clemson in the CFP semifinals after a season in which they were arguably the most complete team in the country. These instances highlighted the inherent flaws in the four-team system—teams like Ohio State, which had championship-caliber resumes, were still sometimes left on the bubble.

The expanded playoff has been a blessing for the Buckeyes. Under the new system, they can afford a loss (or even two), which provides greater flexibility and reduces the pressure to run the table each season. A loss in the Big Ten Championship or a challenging non-conference game no longer signals the end of their national title hopes. With the expanded playoff, Ohio State can now secure an at-large bid even without an automatic conference championship, and they would be given more leeway in terms of their position within the bracket.

Moreover, the increased number of playoff spots means that Ohio State has a greater chance of being recognized for the quality of its season. Ohio State has been a consistent contender but has often had to face a tough path to the CFP, sometimes competing against stronger teams from other power conferences that had easier schedules or a more favorable conference championship path. With the expansion to 12 teams, the Buckeyes are all but guaranteed a spot in the playoff, barring an unusually disappointing season.

3. Notre Dame: The Independent’s New Lease on Life

Notre Dame has a unique place in college football. As an independent school, the Fighting Irish have long competed against some of the most challenging schedules in the country, without the benefit of a conference championship to bolster their resume. While the Irish have maintained their independence out of tradition and pride, this status has often worked against them in the previous playoff format. Without a conference title to hang their hat on, Notre Dame’s path to the CFP was often precarious. While their non-conference schedule frequently included top-tier opponents, there was always the fear that a single loss could derail their playoff hopes.

This issue came to a head in 2020 when Notre Dame went 10-1 during the regular season, earning a spot in the CFP, but they were soundly defeated by Alabama in the semifinals. While their appearance in the playoff was a major achievement, Notre Dame’s loss underscored the vulnerability of an independent program under the previous CFP system.

The expanded playoff has given Notre Dame an invaluable advantage. Under the old four-team structure, the Fighting Irish would likely have missed out on the playoff after their loss to Alabama. However, with 12 teams now in contention, Notre Dame has a much more secure path to the postseason, even if they don’t win a conference title. The expanded field reduces the pressure on Notre Dame to go undefeated or win a conference championship, giving them the flexibility to absorb a loss while still earning a berth.

Additionally, Notre Dame’s rigorous independent schedule ensures that they will continue to play a competitive slate of games. As a result, their resume will remain strong enough to secure a playoff spot even in years when they face a difficult loss. In previous years, Notre Dame would have been penalized for a single defeat and been left out of contention. With the expanded playoff, they can now focus on scheduling the best possible opponents without the concern that one loss will ruin their championship hopes.

The expanded field also serves as a safety net for Notre Dame’s recruitment efforts. Knowing that the team has a clear path to the playoff—even with a loss—will attract more elite prospects to the program, as they will have more opportunities to compete for a national title. The increased exposure from making the expanded playoff will only further solidify Notre Dame’s standing as a premier program in college football.

4. The Broader Impact of the Expanded CFP on College Football

The changes brought about by the College Football Playoff expansion are not only beneficial for Ohio State and Notre Dame but for college football as a whole. The new system enhances the competitive balance of the sport by allowing more teams to have a realistic shot at the national title. This has a profound effect on recruiting, fan engagement, and overall program development.

Recruiting: Teams that would have previously been excluded from the playoff are now able to offer recruits the chance to compete for a national title. Programs from the Group of Five conferences and teams with less consistent track records can now sell the opportunity of postseason play, which could improve the quality of competition across college football. The 12-team playoff incentivizes schools to build stronger teams, knowing that they have a genuine shot at national glory, even if they don’t have the resources of the big powerhouses.

Fan Engagement: For fans, the expansion means more excitement, more upsets, and a greater sense of inclusivity. Previously, the end of the regular season often saw several fanbases resigned to the idea that their teams didn’t have a shot at the national title, with just a handful of teams still in contention. Now, more programs will have a reason to play hard late into the season, and the bowl games that previously felt like consolation prizes will carry more weight as potential playoff positioning.

Program Development: The expansion also helps to level the playing field for programs with less established track records. It gives them the chance to develop teams with the expectation that they can eventually reach the playoff, which fosters growth across the sport. Teams like Cincinnati, who made a historic playoff appearance in 2021, now have a real chance of making it again under the new format, leading to broader exposure and growth for non-traditional powers.