Things just keep getting worse for Notre Dame.

In addition to the Fighting Irish having to run an unexpected coaching search, their College Football Playoff chances may have been impacted by Brian Kelly’s decision to go to Notre Dame.

College Football Playoff chair Gary Barta acknowledged the committee does have the ability to take the absence of a player or coach into account when it makes its final rankings next week.

Notre Dame stayed at No. 6 in this week’s rankings, but Barta indicated that the committee has not yet considered what Kelly’s departure means for the Fighting Irish’s playoff résumé.

Notre Dame is 11-1 on the season and its only loss of the year came to No. 4 Cincinnati. Ironically, the Bearcats’ Luke Fickell is a top candidate to replace Kelly in South Bend.

Notre Dame should be in position to hire a highly-regarded candidate. The program is coming off five straight 10-win seasons, which is a Notre Dame record.

The final College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed on Sunday.