Three two-loss teams were present in the top-10 of Tuesday night’s updated College Football Playoff rankings. No. 8 Oklahoma led the way, followed by No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 10 Alabama. This led to debate amongst many, who believe that the Crimson Tide boast a much stronger resume than the Irish.

Alabama holds wins over four teams present in the latest CFP Rankings (No. 4 Georgia, No. 14 Vanderbilt, No. 20 Tennessee, and No. 22 Missouri), while Notre Dame is just 1-2 against such teams. The Irish downed No. 15 USC 34-24 on Oct. 14, but kicked off the season with back-to-back losses to No. 13 Miami and No. 3 Texas A&M.

ESPN‘s Booger McFarland broke down why the committee would have put Notre Dame over Alabama in the Rankings during a hit on Wednesday afternoon’s edition of ‘SportsCenter‘.

“I think the fact that they both have two losses lets you know that the committee views Notre Dame as the better team right now,” McFarland said. “Notre Dame is a hotter team. They lost their first two games, but have won eight in a row. And when you look at how they play and their physicality, they’ve got the best backfield in America with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The offensive line is really good. The defense is big and physical. They can cover man-to-man on the outside, and I think CJ Carr, as a young quarterback, is starting to come along.”

McFarland says committee looked at teams ‘in a vacuum’

“I think the committee just looked at these two teams and said ‘in a vacuum, they both have two losses. Who do we think is better right now?’ And I think they deemed that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are just the better team right now.”

“But let’s just remember, this is an incomplete resume. The committee has an enviable task of trying to figure out what the resume is going to look like when it ends, because we still have a couple weeks left in the season.”

Both teams opened the season with a loss, but in Alabama‘s case, it won its next eight games before falling at home to Oklahoma 23-21 on Saturday. Notre Dame opened with an 0-2 record, but is currently in the midst of an eight-game winning streak. With both programs facing unranked teams in their final two games of the season, it may take a win in the SEC Championship Game for Alabama to jump back over the Irish in the final CFP Rankings.

As usual, head-to-head is a popular topic in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Specifically in the back-end of the top-10, where many figured Alabama and Oklahoma wound up. With the Sooners winning in Tuscaloosa on Saturday afternoon, they jumped ahead of their SEC foes.

CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek explained the decision to rank Oklahoma over Alabama. A quite simple answer, saying the head-to-head comes into play.

“Oklahoma, obviously, got the nod based on their two-point win at [Alabama],” Yurachek said.

Both teams hold an 8-2 record heading into Week 13. Alabama previously sat at No. 4, meaning they dropped six spots to No. 10 due to the loss. Oklahoma moved up to No. 8 after previously being No. 11. There might have been an argument to be made for the Crimson Tide’s overall resume but not a strong enough one to overcome the result from around 72 hours before.

Two games remain on the regular season schedule for both. Alabama likely holds the easier path to the finish line, considering FCS Eastern Illinois is next up. However, the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium vs. Auburn is no joke. Head coach Kalen DeBoer knows his team will need to remain focused coming off the loss.

Oklahoma gets two SEC games in Norman, beginning with Missouri on Saturday. LSU then comes to town a couple of days after Thanksgiving, one where the Sooners hope to be celebrating a 10-2 record and birth into the CFP. Tests have flown past Brent Venables all season, passing a few and coming short in others. Two more passing grades get the job done.

Hunter Yurachek answers original question about Miami, Notre Dame

The answer provided by Yuracheck was originally a question about the situation regarding Miami and Notre Dame. In this scenario, the Hurricanes are comfortably below a team they beat to open the 2025 season despite the same record. ESPN’s Rece Davis was wondering if the head-to-head played a role there.

Eventually, Yuracheck got to that side of the equation. In the committee’s eyes, Miami and Notre Dame are not currently in a “comparable range.”

“So, if Miami and Notre Dame are in a comparable tier, comparable range, the head-to-head will be a significant data point that we will use.”

Slightly different than the situation with Alabama and Oklahoma, who are within a group of three. Notre Dame is right between them at No. 9, while Miami is back at No. 13.

• Oklahoma is expected to climb to No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings after defeating Alabama.
• Alabama’s loss to the Sooners will likely drop them to No. 9, just ahead of Notre Dame.
• Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M are projected to remain the top three undefeated teams.

Three high-profile teams — Oklahoma, Alabama and Notre Dame — will take the spotlight in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings.

After beating the Crimson Tide 23-21, look for the Sooners to climb to No. 8. Previously No. 4, Alabama’s fall should stop at No. 9. That will knock Notre Dame back one spot to No. 10 even after the Fighting Irish breezed past Pittsburgh.

While the red-hot Irish have won eight in a row, Alabama has a stronger résumé against a significantly more difficult schedule.

Losses by Louisville, Iowa, Pittsburgh, South Florida and Cincinnati should open a spot for the Group of Five. Tulane is the safest bet to crack the rankings thanks to wins against Northwestern, Duke and Memphis.

Here’s how the top 12 of the third playoff rankings of the 2025 season will look:

1. Ohio State (10-0)

Best win: vs. Texas (14-7), Aug. 30.

Loss: None.

Playoff chances: 100%. The Buckeyes could lose to Rutgers and Michigan and still earn an at-large spot. OSU could even beat Rutgers, lose to Michigan, miss the Big Ten championship game and be in contention for an opening-round bye.

2. Indiana (11-0)

Best win: at Oregon (30-20), Oct. 11.

Loss: None.          

Playoff chances: 100%. Taking care of Wisconsin locks Indiana into at least an at-large spot. Beating Purdue on Nov. 28 will send the Hoosiers to the Big Ten title game for the first time ever. That also should wrap up a bye.