The premise is simple: Although Notre dame is undefeated through 12 games in the regular season, the Irish are not worthy of being included in the playoffs because they do not play a conference championship game.
The premise is illogical: Of Notre Dame’s 12 games, four were victories over ranked opponents, two of which will play in conference championship games; furthermore, six of those games were against historic rivals, who annually play with greater tenacity because pride is on the line; and those games were played from sea to shining sea, with two on the Pacific coast and three on the Atlantic coast.