Speaking on his eponymous podcast, Fox Sports' lead college football analyst Joel Klatt said the playoff committee needs to honor Miami's season-opening win over Notre Dame or what are we doing? The College Football Playoff committee has defended Notre Dame being ranked ahead of Miami in the last two weeks.
CFP committee chair emeritus, Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades, stated after the first two releases of the rankings that Miami needs more consistency and that Notre Dame is playing better now. Rhoades resigned earlier this week from the CFP committee after a report that he had a sideline involving Baylor coaches.
Notre Dame is currently ninth in the College Football Playoff Rankings and Miami is 15th. Miami defeated Notre Dame 27-24 in the season opener. Miami, being six spots behind Notre Dame despite the season-opening win, caused a lot of discussion when the most recent rankings were released on Tuesday.
After the initial rankings were released on November 4, Rhodes stated the committee wanted to see more consistency from Miami down the stretch. Miami beat Syracuse 38-10 on Saturday, but did not score until 2:13 remained in the first half and led 14-0 at halftime.
"I do not care what they've looked like – you have to honor a direct head-to-head matchup, or else, what are we doing?"@joelklatt says if it comes down to a debate between Miami and Notre Dame, Miami should go to the playoff. Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/pTUvS4WL3q
— The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football on FOX Pod (@JoelKlattShow) November 12, 2025
"If it comes down to a discussion...between Miami and Notre Dame. Miami should go to the playoffs....I do not care what they have looked like...If we're talking about a last playoff spot...you have to honor the...game that was played...Miami's got a hope that Texas falls off....Vandy gets beat by Tennessee....they don't stumble because they've got to go to Pitt...There's no guarantee that they're even gonna be in that position....If they can get to a position where they're in direct comparison with Notre Dame, I even will pound the table for Miami."Fox Sports CFP lead analyst Joel Klatt
Even in wins, Miami has struggled frequently during the first halves of games in 2025. In a 42-7 win over Stanford last month, Miami needed a TD with 1:15 remaining in the first half to tie the game at seven. Miami erupted for 21 points in the third quarter and added a pair of TDs in the fourth for the convincing win.
The statement from Rhoades about the committee needing to see more consistency from Miami is subjective. Even with poor first halves offensively versus Stanford and Syracuse, Miami still won those games by a combined total of 63 points. The CFP committee is leaving itself open to a lot of interpretation.
Despite his comments, Klatt ranks Notre Dame ninth and does not have Miami in his top 10. The rankings will start to become firmer over the final three weeks, as several teams ahead of Miami in the CFP rankings have games against opponents higher than them in the rankings.
Texas is at Georgia and Oklahoma is at Alabama on Saturday. Alabama and Georgia are favored. If Oklahoma and Texas lose, Miami should move up two spots in the rankings on Tuesday with a win over Notre Carolina State. Nothing with the committee is ever guaranteed.
Notre Dame is at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Pittsburgh hosts Notre Dame on Saturday in by far the most difficult remaining game for Notre Dame during the regular season. Notre Dame hosts Syracuse on November 22 and finishes the regular season at Stanford on November 29.