For last year’s inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, the four highest-ranked conference champions received the top four seeds and a first-round bye. The four byes went to No. 1 Oregon (Big Ten),

After months of meeting to discuss things to discuss at future meetings, the people in charge of the College Football Playoff actually made a decision on Thursday, and it was one we've assumed they'd make for a while. After last year's 12-team CFP gave byes to the four most highly ranked conference champions, this year's will not.

This has been quite the offseason for Notre Dame and coach Marcus Freeman. The College Football Playoff's decision to alter the seeding and first-round bye process for the 2025 season continues a string of wins for the Fighting Irish that includes an elite signing haul and the news of a 12-year partnership with Clemson for a future series that strengthens their stance as an independent program.