The stage is set for the College Football Playoff — and someone has some explaining to do.

Shortly after ESPN announced the full bracket for the CFP on Sunday afternoon, selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek joined the broadcast to justify a pair of controversial selections: Alabama in; Notre Dame out.

THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE 2025-26 PLAYOFF 🏈🏆 #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/GPoYiE5YmQ — College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 7, 2025

Clumped together with Miami on the playoff bubble, the committee rolled with the Crimson Tide (10–3) as the ninth seed and swapped the Fighting Irish (10–2) for the Hurricanes (10–2) in the ten-spot at the last minute.

Yurachek was asked by ESPN host Rece Davis to defend the selection of Alabama, which had just endured a 28–7 spanki

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