Notre Dame Declines Bowl Game Invitation After College Football Playoff Snub
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame announced Sunday that its football team will forgo participation in any bowl game this season after being left out of the College Football Playoff (CFP). The Fighting Irish, who ended the 2025 campaign with a 10-2 record, were the first team excluded from the CFP bracket, sparking debate across the college football landscape.
Notre Dame’s exclusion came as the CFP Committee selected the Miami Hurricanes, along with James Madison and Tulane, over the storied program. Miami’s inclusion, despite Notre Dame’s higher ranking in the penultimate CFP release, was a key factor in the decision that led the Fighting Irish to withdraw from postseason bowl consideration. The university issued a statement expressing gratitude to its supporters while emphasizing its aspirations for a national championship in 2026.
“As a team, we’ve decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season,” the statement read. “We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we’re hoping to bring the 12th national title to South Bend in 2026.”
Notre Dame’s two losses this season came early, against Miami and Texas A&M, both of which impacted their playoff chances. The CFP Committee’s chair, Hunter Yurachek, addressed the decision during an interview with ESPN, highlighting the close comparison between Notre Dame and Miami. “You look at those two teams on paper and they were almost equal in their schedule strength, their common opponents, the results against their common opponents, but the one metric we had to fall back on was the head-to-head,” Yurachek explained. He noted that committee members revisited the Miami-Notre Dame game to inform their final decision.
The controversy surrounding Notre Dame’s exclusion has reignited discussions about the CFP selection process and its criteria. Fans and analysts alike have debated whether the Fighting Irish deserved a spot in the playoff field, given their strong season and historical prominence. The College Football Playoff Committee has faced similar scrutiny in past years over its selections.
Notre Dame’s decision to opt out of bowl play is rare among major programs and underscores the disappointment felt by the team and its supporters. The university’s head coach, Marcus Freeman, and key players such as quarterback CJ Carr and defensive lineman Donovan Hinish have been central figures throughout the season, which saw notable victories and a competitive schedule.
This development also impacts the broader college football postseason landscape, as bowl games rely on marquee programs to draw viewership and attendance. The NCAA oversees the bowl system and will monitor how such decisions affect future postseason arrangements.
As the Fighting Irish look ahead to 2026, their focus remains on returning stronger and contending for a national title. Meanwhile, the debate over the CFP’s selection criteria continues, with stakeholders calling for transparency and consistency in how teams are evaluated. For now, Notre Dame’s absence from this year’s postseason serves as a poignant reminder of the high stakes and intense competition that define college football’s playoff era.
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