Can Notre Dame get a bye in the college football playoffs? All you need to know

Week 14 is in the books, and it is time to look at Notre Dame and other possible playoff teams to assess where they will fall in the bracket. The No. 5-ranked Fighting Irish (11-1) finished their regular season with a 49-35 win over USC. However, they are not eligible for a bye in the first round of the playoffs because they will not play in a conference championship.

Can Notre Dame get a bye in the college football playoffs?

No, despite Notre Dame's excellent regular season, they won't get a bye through the first round of the playoffs. The teams that qualify for a bye through the first round of the playoffs are the four highest-ranked conference champions. The five highest-ranked conference champions earn a playoff spot, but the four highest-ranked of those teams earn a bye.

Since Notre Dame is independent and does not play in a conference, they aren't eligible for a bye. However, the Fighting Irish are still qualified to play in the playoffs, which should be close to a guarantee.

The next seven playoff spots go to the seven highest-ranked non-conference champions. Since the Fighting Irish were the No. 5-ranked team heading into Week 14 and won their game, there should be no risk that they fall out of the playoffs.

Who gets a bye in the college football playoffs?

The four highest-ranked conference champions will earn byes through the first round of the college football playoffs. Those games will take place next weekend.

Three of the byes will go to the winners of the Big 10 Championship, SEC Championship, and ACC Championship. No matter which team wins the championship, they will be among the four highest-ranked champions.

The Big 10 Championship will feature the No. 1-ranked Oregon Ducks and the No. 4-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. The SEC Championship will feature the No. 3-ranked Texas Longhorns and No. 6-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. The ACC Championship is between No. 9-ranked SMU and No. 12-ranked Clemson.

The other spot will go to the winner of either the Mountain West Championship or the Big 12 Championship. If No. 11-ranked Boise State wins the Mountain West Championship, it will earn the bye. However, if it loses, the winner of No. 14-ranked Arizona State vs. No. 17-ranked Iowa State in the Big 12 will earn the bye.

Where is Notre Dame ranked the college football playoffs?

Notre Dame is the No. 5-ranked team but is automatically ranked behind the conference champions in the bracket. Additionally, since three teams in the Big 10 are ahead of it, the Fighting Irish are ranked eight in the playoff bracket.