The unhealthy luck of the Irish.
Until there was a sport between Miami and Notre Dame performed Saturday that nobody noticed, the Faculty Soccer Playoff committee’s choice to flip these groups this week is the final word head-scratcher.
Positive, Miami beat Notre Dame head-to-head in September, however why did it take till this week (when each groups have been off) for Miami to leap Notre Dame within the rankings?
The one logical conclusion is that the committee didn’t wish to utterly shut out the ACC. So, when Duke beat Virginia within the ACC Championship sport and the Solar Belt (James Madison) stole the ACC’s computerized bid, the committee backtracked to get Miami in over Notre Dame – and Notre Dame would’ve been in over Miami had Virginia held on to beat Duke.
The faculty soccer world was going to be outraged irrespective of which of the three bubble groups – Alabama, Notre Dame and Miami – was omitted of the at-large subject.
Nobody stated it higher than Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua.
“Any rankings or present previous to this final one is an absolute joke and a waste of time,” he informed Yahoo Sports activities.
Listed here are different reactions to the Irish being the odd crew out, together with the sentiment that the Irish want to affix a convention to keep away from this occurring sooner or later.
Former Notre Dame quarterback and Fox analyst Brady Quinn: “There wasn’t any logic ready to maneuver UM forward of ND if Conf championship sport outcomes are inconsequential. If Face to face was an element, you had all of it yr. This isn’t a severe committee. It’s a made for TV occasion. Develop and do away with the committee. BCS was a greater system. For ND, you now know 11-1 is the worst you are able to do to safe a spot on this present playoff format.”
Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Chase Daniel: “Miami ought to’ve been in over a 3 loss Alabama crew …. No query.”
Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky: “Notre Dame ought to have been in over Alabama”
CBS Sports activities nationwide school soccer author Shehan Jeyarajas: “The committee flipping Notre Dame and Miami with out something altering between these two groups final week is without doubt one of the best shams within the historical past of the playoff. What a complete joke. I believe that Miami ought to have been over Notre Dame, however then they need to have been final week.”
NBC Sports activities school soccer insider Nicole Auerbach: “So, BYU was penalized for getting blown out in its convention championship sport (dropped one spot). Which allowed Miami to maneuver up and get in contrast on to Notre Dame. However Alabama was not penalized for getting blown out in its convention championship sport.”
The opening video games of the 2025 Faculty Soccer Playoff:
Spherical 1
- No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma on Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET
- No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M on Dec. 20 at 12 p.m. ET
- No. 11 Tulane at No 6 Ole Miss on Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET
- No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon on Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Quarterfinals
- No. 10 Miami/No. 7 Texas A&M vs No. 2 Ohio State at Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 12 James Madison/No. 5 Oregon vs No. 4 Texas Tech on Jan. 1 at 12 p.m. ET
- No. 9 Alabama/No. 8 Oklahoma vs No. 1 Indiana on Jan. 1 at 4 p.m. ET
- No. 11 Tulane/No. 6 Ole Miss vs No. 3 Georgia on Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. ET
Faculty Soccer Report: “Notre Dame will get omitted of the CFP… The Irish gained 10 straight, have been ranked forward of Miami for weeks, and their solely losses have been Week 1 to No. 10 Miami and Week 2 to No. 7 Texas A&M by a mixed 4 factors. Ridiculous choice. Probably the greatest groups within the nation.”
Former NFL quarterback Matt Flynn: “YESSSSSSSSS!!!!! GREAT JOB BY THE COMMITTEE TO KEEP NOTRE DAME OUT. JOIN A CONFERENCE.”
Former NFL quarterback and former ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III: “The best way the Faculty Soccer season formed up, the CFP Committee had a chance to do probably the most proper factor with the smallest backlash. Alabama and BYU getting blown out of their convention championship video games opened the door to place each Notre Dame and Miami in. As an alternative they dropped the ball and punished BYU for shedding, didn’t punish Alabama for shedding after which flipped Notre Dame and Miami regardless of neither of them enjoying a sport. None of it is sensible. They did the factor that may give them probably the most backlash simply to have 5 SEC groups within the playoff. That makes everybody query the integrity of the method and rightfully so.”
Skip Bayless: “It’s ridiculous that JMU and Tulane are within the Faculty Soccer Playoffs … and Notre Dame and Texas and Vanderbilt aren’t. This shouldn’t be about ‘all people will get an opportunity.’ This must be about THE BEST 12 TEAMS IN AMERICA. Come on.“
ESPN reporter Holly Rowe: “BYU Solely 2 losses to high 4 seed Deserved extra. Notre Dame, Texas…not in? So irritated.”
Former NFL quarterback and CBS Sports activities analyst Danny Kanell: “Miami deserved to be in….glad they get the possibility. However now Notre Dame obtained screwed. They need to have been in over Alabama.”
CBS Sports activities reporter Tom Fornelli: “A easy query for everyone yelling that Notre Dame ought to be a part of a convention and it gained’t get ‘screwed’ or no matter. BYU joined a convention. Did that reserve it?”
Former Ohio State working again Beanie Wells: ”Notre dame obtained Screwed smh. Disgrace on the committee.”
