Notre Dame-Miami Catch Debate & Playoff Ranking Metrics

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Outspoken With Dan Sileo

Miami-Notre Dame Takeaways and the Committee’s Emphasis on Big Wins

The disputed play in the Miami-Notre Dame game was not viewed as a catch. It may have been considered one in 1988, but the standard has changed through high-profile rulings involving Dez Bryant and Calvin Johnson. Even live, the play did not appear to be a catch, though there is an understandable case for the opposite conclusion.

Overall, Miami still delivered an impressive performance. The Hurricanes fought back on the road without Malachi Toi and made the necessary adjustments. They could emerge as a tougher team with a chip on their shoulder after the way the game ended. If Malachi Toi returns by the postseason, there is still reason to feel good about the Canes.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, had to win. A loss would have meant missing the College Football Playoff for a second consecutive year and going two straight years without a big victory. After close losses to two top-10 teams last year and another loss to BYU to begin this season, questions remained about whether Marcus Freeman could get the program over the hump.

Notre Dame reached the national championship game in 2024, but the program still needed to prove it could consistently take the next step by winning games like this one. Unless Notre Dame is upset by SMU, it is difficult to see the team missing the playoffs.

The committee’s rankings appear to place significant value on big wins and strength of schedule. UCLA’s rise was helped by Oregon returning to No. 16 after winning two consecutive games, making UCLA’s victory look stronger. Undefeated teams are also likely to remain near the top.

The strength-of-record metric, added last year, considers both the quality of a team’s schedule and how it performed against those opponents. That helps explain why Alabama is ranked No. 3 with two losses. Alabama won decisively on the road at Kentucky, beat South Carolina and LSU by large margins, and defeated Mississippi State when it was at full strength.

Tennessee still has a case to be ranked ahead of Alabama after winning by 16, but Alabama’s overall résumé remains strong. Its three-point home loss to Georgia also included a controversial pass-interference non-call.

Miami fell to No. 7 because Wake Forest is its only notable win. Teams with fewer significant victories are more vulnerable after a loss. Indiana similarly dropped from No. 4 to No. 9 without playing because Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, and UCLA earned big wins. Indiana now has an opportunity against USC and needs to win.