SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – ESPN is reporting that the seeding rules for the College Football Playoff (CFP)are changing, and Notre Dame benefits.
According to ESPN, the CFP will go to a straight seeding model. That means the four first-round byes will no longer be given to the highest-rated major conference champs. The first round byes will be given to the four top ranked teams, no matter what conference they are in or not in.
Under the previous rules Notre Dame could not have ever earned a first round bye because they were not in one of the four power conferences.
Now, if the Irish are ranked in the top four, they can get a first round bye.
During the initial CFP last season, Boise State and Arizona State both received first-round byes as the third and fourth seeds even though they were not ranked in the top four.
Penn State and Texas would have been the other teams to get first round byes had these new rules been in effect last year.
The new rules will go into effect this fall.
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