Alabama and Notre Dame Lead Heated CFP Bubble Debate
The College Football Playoff (CFP) debate is getting messy as we close in on the final selection. A bunch of teams are fighting for the last two at-large spots, and coaches are not shy about making their cases.
This post digs into the tangled arguments from bubble teams like Notre Dame, Alabama, Texas, Vanderbilt, Miami, and BYU. Each is scrambling for a place in the CFP, with their own narratives and strategies for swaying the selection committee.
Contents
Notre Dame’s Eye Test and Good Losses
Notre Dame is banking on the *eye test* to push their way in. Coach Marcus Freeman keeps saying the committee should look at *who are the best teams now*.
They don’t have wins against top-15 opponents, but they’re selling their close losses to Miami and Texas A&M—both legit programs—as *good losses*. It’s an attempt to distract from their lack of big victories and a pretty soft schedule.
Strength of Schedule
Notre Dame’s schedule included last-place teams from three of the Power Four conferences. Still, they think their overall performance and those so-called *good losses* should be enough.
The Irish are hoping the committee’s subjective judgment, and honestly, maybe a little gut feeling, will tip things their way.
Alabama’s Strength of Schedule and Conference Performance
Alabama is leaning hard into their tough schedule and how they finished in the SEC. They went 7-1 in conference play and took down Georgia, which is no small thing.
Coach Kalen DeBoer is confident that Alabama belongs in the playoff, especially since they made it to the SEC Championship game.
Key Wins and Losses
Their biggest brag is ending Georgia’s 33-game home win streak. On the flip side, they did lose to Florida State in Week 1—a team that ended up 5-7.
Alabama’s play is to spotlight their strong finish and hope folks forget about that ugly start.
Texas’ Robust Schedule and Key Victories
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is not shy about saying the Longhorns deserve a CFP spot, even with three losses. Their schedule was brutal, including a nail-biter against defending champ Ohio State.
Key wins against Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt help their case a lot.
Arguments and Counterpoints
Sarkisian claims that if they’d picked an easier opponent instead of Ohio State, they’d be 10-2. But their loss to Florida, a team that went 4-8, is a sticking point.
Texas is aiming to be the first three-loss team to make the playoff, riding their tough schedule and those big wins.
Vanderbilt’s Heisman Hopeful and Roadblocks
Vanderbilt’s path is rougher. They have 10 wins, but losses to Alabama and Texas—and a lighter schedule—don’t help.
Coach Clark Lea is pushing their star, Diego Pavia, as a Heisman candidate, hoping that brings some extra shine to their resume.
Challenges and Key Wins
The Commodores don’t have a marquee victory. Their best shot is a 45-24 win over Tennessee in the last game.
Without head-to-head wins or a killer schedule, Vanderbilt is leaning on individual accolades and overall consistency.
Miami’s Head-to-Head Victory and Conference Struggles
Miami’s main pitch is their head-to-head win over Notre Dame. Coach Mario Cristobal insists that *head-to-head is always the No. 1 criteria*.
But Miami didn’t make the conference championship in what most people call the weakest Power Four conference. That’s a big obstacle.
Strength of Argument
The Hurricanes are sticking to their Notre Dame win, hoping it’s enough. Cristobal is betting on direct results, though it’s anyone’s guess if the committee will buy in.
BYU’s Record and Strength of Schedule
BYU has the best record among bubble teams at 11-1, with their only loss coming to Texas Tech. Their strength of schedule looks pretty solid compared to other non-SEC teams.
Still, the bubble is crowded, and the committee hasn’t exactly been warm to the Big 12 in the past. BYU’s spot is anything but secure.
Path to the Playoff
To get in, BYU probably needs to win the Big 12 Championship. The Cougars seem cautious, knowing the committee can be unpredictable.
They’re putting their best foot forward and hoping the championship game tips things their way. If not, well, it wouldn’t be the first time the playoff process left folks scratching their heads.
Conclusion
The CFP selection is almost here, and you can feel the tension rising. Bubble teams are arguing their cases with everything they’ve got.
Notre Dame leans on the so-called *eye test*, while Alabama points to their brutal schedule. Texas is proud of its big wins. Vanderbilt’s got a star player that keeps them in the conversation.
Miami? They’ll remind you of that head-to-head victory. BYU’s record is hard to ignore, too.
The committee has a tough job ahead. Who really deserves those playoff spots? No easy answer.
Want to dig into the details and see each team’s arguments for yourself? Check out the ongoing debate at USA Today.
