(Photo: Joe Weiser)

Caleb’s Corner

On Tuesday night’s College Football Playoff ranking show, Notre Dame held steady at No. 9 while Miami landed at No. 13. With both teams still alive in the 12-team postseason format, the real discussion isn’t about scenarios—it’s about who has earned their position. And right now, the committee’s verdict is unmistakable: Notre Dame has separated itself from Miami.

Naturally, that raises the question driving this week’s debate:
If Miami beat Notre Dame in the opener, why are the Irish ranked significantly higher now?

A Season Is More Than the Season Opener

Miami’s 27–24 win over Notre Dame came in Week 1—CJ Carr’s first career start and Chris Ash’s debut as defensive coordinator. Since then, the paths of these two programs have diverged sharply.

Notre Dame’s résumé includes:

• Two razor-close losses, including one to undefeated Texas A&M
• Ranked wins over USC and Pittsburgh
• A defense that has developed into one of the most consistent groups in the country
• An offense powered by Heisman contender Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and a far more seasoned CJ Carr

Miami’s résumé includes:

• A fast 5–0 start
• But damaging losses to unranked Louisville and unranked SMU
• A lack of consistency that has held the Hurricanes outside the upper tier of playoff contenders

This is exactly why the committee judges bodies of work—not just one early-season head-to-head result.

The Eye Test — and Vegas — Aren’t Close

Here’s the truth reflected in the rankings:

Notre Dame is passing the eye test in a big way. Miami is not.

And it’s not just the committee seeing that.

According to Las Vegas oddsmakers, if Notre Dame and Miami played today on a neutral field, the Irish would be a 4.5-point favorite. When analytics, Vegas, and the committee all line up, it speaks loudly about who the better team is right now.

There’s Still Plenty of Football Left

Of course, the season isn’t finished.
There are three more sets of rankings still to come from the College Football Playoff committee. Chaos can—and to some degree will—shake up the landscape. Programs will rise, others will fall, and resumes will evolve.

But as of today, the picture is clear:

8–2 Notre Dame is the better football team and more deserving of a playoff berth than Miami.

Who Deserves It More?

Miami won the opener.
Notre Dame has won everything since.

From performance to consistency to improvement, the Irish look like a playoff team. Miami has yet to prove the same reliability.

And that’s why the committee has made its stance unmistakable:
On the field today, Notre Dame beats Miami — and the committee knows it.