Urban Meyer and Brady Quinn clash over a hypothetical showdown: could Notre Dame or Miami topple Georgia in an SEC title game? The debate kicked off after the Big Ten Championship, when FOX analysts Meyer and Quinn argued about the final two at-large playoff spots, specifically whether Alabama would make the cut if faced with Georgia away from home.
Meyer argued that if Alabama must travel to Georgia, Notre Dame and Miami would likely struggle in that environment. Quinn challenged the premise, noting Notre Dame’s win against Georgia last year and pushing back on the idea of singling out one result to penalize a traditional independent program.
Meyer pressed the broader point: removing Alabama from the 12-team playoff picture solely because of a conference championship appearance seems unfair. He also raised a provocative claim about Notre Dame never being in a conference championship game to illustrate how the playoff criteria could penalize a program that operates outside a traditional conference structure.
Quinn acknowledged the broader context of Notre Dame’s playoff run and national championship contention from the previous season, reminding viewers that what happened on the field last year isn’t erased by current debates. He emphasized that Notre Dame’s on-field results — including their victory over Georgia — cannot be dismissed.
As the discussion unfolded, neither Meyer nor Quinn represented Miami’s interests on air, and Miami offered little pushback to Meyer’s assertions. The real verdict will come when the selection committee reveals the final two playoff spots, a moment both analysts anticipated with keen interest.
Looking ahead, Quinn leaned toward selecting Miami and Notre Dame for the final two playoff spots, citing recent head-to-head outcomes and performance. Meyer, meanwhile, kept Miami in the mix while asserting Alabama’s case for inclusion based on SEC Championship participation.
Which interpretation do you find most persuasive? Does Alabama deserve a spot regardless of potential playoff placement ramifications, or should Notre Dame’s independent status and recent performance carry more weight? Share your viewpoint in the comments on how the final playoff field should be determined and whether conference championships should influence selection more than head-to-head results or program history.
