Path to the Conferences

This page tracks the most likely way the belt could end up in each major conference during the 2025 season, now that Notre Dame has wrested the belt away with a 49–20 road win over Stanford on November 29. Bowl games and playoffs are not included.

ACC

1. Completed: South Florida lost to Miami (Week 3).
2. Completed: Miami defended the belt by beating Florida 26–7 (Week 4).
3. Completed: Miami went to Tallahassee on October 4 and defeated Florida State.
4. Completed: Louisville upset Miami on October 10 to capture the belt.
5. Completed: Louisville held serve against Boston College on October 18.
6. Completed: Louisville survived Virginia Tech on October 24 to set up a cross-division clash with California.
7. Completed: California visited Louisville on October 25 and claimed the belt.
8. Completed: Stanford knocked off California in Berkeley on November 1 to take the belt.
9. Completed: Notre Dame stunned Stanford 49–20 in Palo Alto on November 29 to grab the belt.

SEC

The regular-season road back to the SEC now depends on Notre Dame's 2026 schedule. With the belt in Independent hands, there is no confirmed matchup with an SEC school before postseason play.

Big 12

There is no direct or likely non-bowl path to the Big 12 this season due to lack of scheduled matchups with Big 12 teams.

Big Ten

Similarly, no clear route exists for the belt to reach the Big Ten before the postseason.

Group of Five / Independents

The belt currently sits with Independent Notre Dame.