Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua speaks with media at Notre Dame Stadium on Monday, Dec. 17, 2024, in South Bend.

Notre Dame was controversially left out of the College Football Playoff, falling from No. 10 in the final rankings release to out of the 12-team bracket on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Should a similar thing happen in 2026, though, the Fighting Irish should be in the CFP. Why? Well, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports that the school signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the CFP committee noting the Fighting Irish would reach the CFP if it's ranked in the top 12 starting next year.

While obviously problematic for the future of the selection process, Yahoo Sports notes Miami would've been bumped for Notre Dame if this year's scenario played out next season. The MOU only covers 12- or 14-team playoffs, according to the report. If the CFP is expanded from seven to nine at-large bids, then Notre Dame would be guaranteed a bid if it finishes No. 13 or better in the final CFP rankings.

Bevacqua expounded on the MOU during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show on Dec. 8.

"I don't want to say too much about the Memorandum of Understanding, but that's certainly been reported, that's out there," Bevacqua said. "What you said is accurate."

Bevacqua later added: "It was part of the negotiations as we were contemplating the various changes that go into the committee and in preparation of the extension of the ESPN deal."

Bevacqua will likely touch on his comments further on Tuesday, Dec. 9, as the Notre Dame athletic director is holding a press conference, the first after the Fighting Irish were left out of the CFP and declined a bowl invitation.

"There is no explanation that could possibly be given to explain the outcome," Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports. "As I said to Marcus (Freeman), one thing is for sure: Any rankings or show prior to this last one is an absolute joke and a waste of time.

"Why put these young student-athletes through these false emotions just to pull the rug out from underneath them having not played a game in two weeks and then a group of people in a room shatter their dreams without explanation? We feel like the playoff was stolen from our student-athletes."

Notre Dame was ranked No. 9, ahead of Alabama and Miami, for multiple weeks before falling to No. 10 in favor of the Crimson Tide after the final week of the regular season. CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek said Miami jumped No. 11 BYU due to the Cougars' Big 12 Championship game performance, which put Notre Dame and Miami at No. 10 and No. 11. Then, is when head-to-head came into play, as the Hurricanes defeated the Fighting Irish in Week 1.

It's unclear if Bevacqua was supposed to disclose the MOU between Notre Dame and the CFP committee, but it's certainly a development to follow going forward, especially if the committee continues to reach controversial decisions in its selection process.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Notre Dame AD: MOU would put Irish in CFP if ranked in top 12 in 2026

Reporting by Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect