Notre Dame should be on the phone with a fruit basket company trying to send Texas Tech something for winning the Big 12 Championship. This isn't because they are necessarily congratulating them on winning, but instead because they truly knocked BYU out of the running to get into the College Football Playoff over Notre Dame.
Texas Tech just it's first-ever Big 12 Championship today, and while they celebrate, Notre Dame will as well.
If the Red Raiders had lost today, that would have given BYU the conference championship bid, and Texas Tech is ranked too high to have fallen out. That would have meant that Notre Dame would have had virtually no shot at making the playoff over Alabama, even if the Crimson Tide lost to Georgia in the SEC Championship.
So, Notre Dame is very gratful to Texas Tech right now for doing what needed to be done. With BYU's loss, the odds for BYU, Notre Dame, and Miami making the playoff have now changed exponetially.
BYU's loss to Texas Tech is music to Notre Dame's ears
Notre Dame's CFP fate was in the hands of Texas Tech and BYU and the Red Raiders gave the Irish an early Christmas gift. While nothing is secure yet, Notre Dame's odds of making the CFP are now better than ever.
Here were the odds of making the CFP for Notre Dame and Miami before BYU's loss:
Notre Dame
- Yes: -250
- No: +198
Miami
- Yes: +370
- No: -520
Here are the odds of making the CFP for Notre Dame and Miami after BYU's loss:
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Notre Dame
- Yes: -520
- No: +370
Miami
- Yes: +270
- No: -355
So, in other words, it is now a two-team race for that final spot in the College Football Playoff. It is going to come down to the two teams that have been debated all week long, Notre Dame and Miami. Right now, the Fighting Irisha re holding the edge, but the committee has changed their minds before and an Alabama loss could be exactly what Notre Dame needs.