Notre Dame came in at No. 5 in the final College Football Playoff rankings on Sunday afternoon.

The Fighting Irish ended the year with an 11-1 record, losing only to No. 4 Cincinnati back in October. Alabama’s convincing win over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game likely kept Notre Dame from reaching the College Football Playoff.

Alabama took the top spot in the rankings, followed by Michigan, Georgia and the Bearcats.

Notre Dame will now wait for its assignment in a New Year’s Six bowl game. The Fighting Irish are likely to be heavily motivated for that game as it will be their first game with new head coach Marcus Freeman.

Freeman replaced coach Brian Kelly, who stunned the college football world by taking the LSU job last week. Kelly’s entire staff is expected to remain at Notre Dame under Freeman.

This was Notre Dame’s fifth consecutive 10-win season, which is the longest such streak in program history. The Fighting Irish also have a chance to get to 12 wins for the first time since 2018 and just the fifth time in program history.

Notre Dame will learn its bowl game opponent on Sunday.