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UNDATED (AP) — Notre Dame’s loss to Clemson in Saturday’s ACC title game didn’t prevent the Irish from landing a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Notre Dame was picked over Texas A&M for the final berth and will take on Alabama near Dallas on Jan. 1. The other game will have Clemson taking on Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
The Fighting Irish are the first team to lose a conference title game and make the selection committee’s final four. The ACC is the second conference to have two teams in the playoff, thanks to an invitation to allow Notre Dame to compete during the pandemic-altered season.
In other bowl matchups of note:
— The fifth-ranked Aggies have to settle for a meeting with No. 13 North Carolina in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2.
— Big 12 champ Oklahoma will battle SEC runner-up Florida in the Dec. 30 Cotton Bowl.
— No. 12 Iowa State scheduled to face Pac-12 champ Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2.
— American Athletic Conference winner and sixth-ranked Cincinnati will meet Georgia in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Minnesota is the latest Football Bowl Subdivision team to opt out of bowl game consideration. Coach P.J. Fleck announced Sunday that the decision was made collectively by athletic department leadership, coaches and players. The Gophers lost 20-17 in overtime at Wisconsin yesterday to finish the season at 3-4.
