Top 3 teams that are ineligible for a first-round bye in the 12-team College Football Playoff ft. Notre Dame

The 2024 college football season will feature plenty of changes, including the expansion of the College Football Playoff from four to 12 teams. The biggest change in the sport, however, will be brought on by conference realignment as each of the Power Five conferences have been affected—with the Pac-12 hit the hardest as they lost ten of their 12 programs.

The expanded postseason field will give several teams an opportunity to reach the postseason and play for a national championship. Four teams will receive a first-round bye meaning that they will only need three wins to emerge as champions, instead of the four that the remaining eight teams will need. That said, here are three programs that are ineligible to receive the said advantage:

Top 3 teams that are ineligible for a first-round bye in the 12-team College Football Playoff

1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been among the best teams in college football as of late. They won at least nine games in each of the past seven seasons, reaching the double digit win mark six times. Notre Dame is expected to contend for a postseason spot after being ranked seventh in the preseason coaches poll. Their schedule should also be less challenging this year.

Being an independent school means that they are ineligible for a first-round bye, which will go to the four highest-ranked conference champions.

2. Oregon State Beavers

The Oregon State Beavers finished with an 8-5 record last season, with four of their five losses coming against ranked opponents. They are one of two schools remaining in the Pac-12, and will face a much easier schedule this year as the Oregon Ducks are their only ranked opponent in the preseason coaches poll.

While they should yield a better result this season, they are ineligible for a first-round bye since their conference does not have enough teams.

3. Washington State Cougars

The Washington State Cougars got off to a 4-0 start last season, climbing as high as 13th in the rankings. Unfortunately, they won just one of their final eight games. As for their schedule, they do not have a single opponent ranked in the preseason coaches poll.

Washington State is the only other team remaining in the Pac-12, alongside Oregon State. This makes them also ineligible for a first-round bye due to the lack of teams in their conference.