Notre Dame climbed six spots to land at No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings after a 31-24 win over the previously unbeaten Miami Hurricanes. The Fighting Irish now face the Boston College Eagles on Saturday, November 14, at 3:30 PM EST inside Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. NBC will carry the broadcast of this critical late-season matchup. The game is a test of whether the Irish can keep their momentum after a massive upset.
The victory over Miami was not a fluke. The Irish scored on their opening drive and led for the final 54 minutes and 38 seconds of the game, according to USA TODAY. They held a double-digit lead for 20 minutes of the game. This dominant performance pushed them past Kentucky, BYU, Indiana, Texas, and Ole Miss in the latest standings. Miami, once the top team in the country, dropped six spots to No. 7 after the loss.
Why the Ranking Jump Matters
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee released its second set of rankings late on Tuesday night. Notre Dame started the season at No. 4 before the Miami game. Now, the team sits just outside the top four, which would grant a first-round bye. The committee views the win over the number one team as a major factor in the climb.
Georgia took the top spot in the rankings after a 42-7 win over Ole Miss. Alabama sits at No. 3 with a 7-2 record after beating LSU 31-13. Utah and UCLA hold the No. 2 and No. 4 spots respectively. Notre Dame needs to avoid a loss to keep their playoff hopes alive and secure a favorable bracket position.
The Road to the Final Four
The schedule gets tougher after this game. On November 21, Notre Dame hosts its home finale against unranked, two-loss SMU. The regular season concludes with a trip to Syracuse on November 28. The committee will release new rankings on November 17, November 24, and December 1 before the final 12-team field is set on December 6.
Boston College enters the game looking to spoil the party. The Eagles know that a win over a top-five team could reshape the playoff picture. The team was missing key defensive starters like linebacker Drayk Bowen and defensive tackle Francis Brewu for the Miami game. They will need those players or similar replacements to stop the Eagles’ offense.
Fans can tune in at 3:30 PM EST on Saturday. The atmosphere at Notre Dame Stadium is expected to be electric given the stakes. The Irish have a history of struggling after big wins, making this week a true test of their character. A loss here could drop them out of the playoff contention entirely.
The final rankings will be decided after conference championship games end on Sunday, December 6. The committee has already shown it rewards quality wins over top opponents. Notre Dame has one more chance to prove they belong in the conversation for a national title shot.
