The College Football Playoff rankings show had barely hit its closing music when chaos broke loose. In one of the most eyebrow-raising reveals of the night, the Fighting Irish, the team that stumbled to an 0–2 start, somehow cracked the top 10. While fans rubbed their eyes in disbelief, CFP Committee Chair Mack Rhoades was already bracing for impact. The Baylor AD took the mic to explain what looked like one of the most puzzling placements of the season, and his defense only added more fuel to the fire.

In a teleconference following the rankings reveal, The Athletic’s Ari Wasserman asked what most of America wanted to hear. Notre Dame beat writer Jack Soble shared the reasoning on November 4 on X.

According to Mack Rhoades, “ I think it starts with two losses, tota

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