A major change is coming to the way in which Faculty Soccer Playoff groups are seeded subsequent season, and there may be one college that can be considerably impacted by the brand new format.
That college is Notre Dame.
ESPN’s Heather Dinich reported on Thursday that the Faculty Soccer Playoff’s administration committee has voted unanimously to move to a straight seeding model for the 12-team playoff in 2025. The 4 highest-ranked groups within the remaining Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings of the season will now be the highest 4 seeds within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Final season, which was the primary yr with a 12-team area, the 4 highest-ranked convention champions got the highest 4 seeds and acquired an automated bye into the quarterfinals. Although Boise State and Arizona State had been ranked No. 9 and No. 12., respectively, within the remaining rankings, they had been the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, respectively, within the Faculty Soccer Playoff as two of the 4 highest-ranked convention champions.
Notre Dame went 11-1 final yr and completed No. 5 within the rankings. Underneath final yr’s seeding mannequin, the Combating Irish weren’t eligible for any of the highest 4 seeds as a result of Notre Dame is impartial and doesn’t have a convention affiliation. Because the 4 byes went to the 4 highest-ranked convention champions, there was no manner for Notre Dame to earn a first-round bye.
Thankfully for Marcus Freeman’s workforce, that has now modified. Like all different colleges, Notre Dame will now solely want to complete as one of many 4 highest-ranked groups within the remaining rankings to earn an automated bye into the quarterfinals.
That’s nonetheless a tall job, nevertheless it ranges the taking part in area for the Combating Irish.
