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By Jordan SiglerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberDespite beating Notre Dame going on the road to beat Stanford 49-20 on Saturday, the College Football Playoff selection committee dropped the Fighting Irish to No. 10 in Tuesday's updated rankings.
More News: CFP Committee Explains Controversial Notre Dame-Alabama Decision
The Alabama Crimson Tide jumped to No. 9 after surviving a near upset by a 5-6 Auburn team in a tight 27-20 contest at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
During ESPN's broadcast of the updated rankings on Tuesday night, committee member Hunter Yurachek claimed that the Notre Dame-Alabama debate was the most contentious he's seen in his two years on the job.
...More News: Florida AD Receives Major Backlash Amid Jon Sumrall News
"I will tell you the debate between Alabama and Notre Dame over the past three weeks has been one of the strongest debates we've had in the room for the past two years that I've been a member of the committee," Yurachek said. "Notre Dame went on the road, had a strong win at Stanford.
"But Alabama went on the road, and in a rivalry game looked really good, especially in the first half, getting up 17 to nothing. Ran the ball well. Auburn came back at them. (Alabama) had a great gutsy call on 4th-and-2 late in the third quarter to get a touchdown, and then got the turnover late in that game."
During an appearance on NBC News on Wednesday, Freeman disagreed with the committee's updated rankings. He said he was "upset" with the Crimson Tide passing the Irish.
“We’re never always going to agree, especially when your program is the one that’s getting dropped after winning by 20-something points,” Freeman said. “There are as many Notre Dame fans that are upset, including myself, as there’s going to be Alabama fans that are happy.
"I don’t always understand it, personally. I’m sure [the committee] gave a legitimate reason, but that doesn’t mean we agree.”
Freeman argued that the current 12-team format might be too small to include all programs that have a legitimate shot to win a national title.
“Every year, you’re going to have a group of three, four teams that are right on the cusp of being in the playoffs or not in the playoffs that are going to be upset," Freeman said. "And it’s going to be no different than if they expand the playoffs to 16 — there’s still going to be somebody that’s not happy with not making it into the playoffs. So it’s life, right?”
"To me, I’m always the supporter of more is better, and the more teams you give an opportunity to play in the playoffs, the better. That’s just how I feel personally. Everybody can have their own opinion, but I always favor more.”
Following Tuesday's rankings, it's clear ND needs two things to happen on Saturday. For the Irish to make the CFP, No. 3 Georgia needs to blow out Alabama, and No. 4 Texas Tech needs to beat No. 11 BYU.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
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