The College Football Playoff will remain at 12-teams for the 2026 season after the CFP's Management Committee was unable to come to a consensus on further expansion of the playoff.
As a result, Notre Dame's Memorandum of Understanding with the CFP committee will also go into effect next season as it currently stands, meaning that the Fighting Irish would reach the CFP if it's ranked in the top 12 of the CFP rankings.
It's a change that doesn't sit well with Stephen A. Smith, who went on a heated rant during Friday's edition of "First Take" on it.
"Why do we have a separate category for Notre Dame? What makes them so damn special?," Smith said. "... This is sickening. ... Bump Notre Dame. Get your ass in a conference and compete like everybody else."
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