CFP Committee chair tells why Notre Dame is ahead of Alabama in playoff rankings

Oct 18, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer yells at officials after a personal foul call against Alabama during the second quarter against the Tennessee Volunteers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

College Football Playoff Committee Chair Hunter Yurachek revealed the thinking behind having Notre Dame ahead of Alabama in the latest playoff rankings.

Both teams are 8-2. The Crimson Tide lost to an unranked Florida State and No. 8 Oklahoma. Notre Dame lost to No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 13 Miami.

Alabama has wins over four teams in the CFP Top 25. Notre Dame has a win over one team in the top 25.

“I will tell you that we probably spent more time in our committee room comparing two or three teams, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Alabama,” Yurachek  said. “Alabama had that string where they had four really strong wins at Georgia, against Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee. You look at Notre Dame, they’ve got a win at Southern Cal and a dominating win against a Pitt team that was ranked in our top 25. Really, where you break these teams down in the comparison, Notre Dame and Alabama. Notre Dame has losses to two teams that are within the top 13. A three-point loss against Miami to start the season and a one-point loss vs. Texas A&M. Alabama obviously has a two-point loss last week to Oklahoma, but they have that loss at the beginning of the season, 31-17, at Florida State, a team that’s now 5-5.”

Alabama still has a shot to reach the playoff, but they must win out.