Notre Dame is a football team no one wanted to play. More importantly, they are an independent entity that no one wanted to pay. In a stunning display of hypocrisy and dishonesty, the Playoff Selection Committee ended Notre Dame’s season on Sunday. For several weeks the Committee ranked the Irish solidly within the Top 12. They explained their process and rationale for doing so, calling Notre Dame “a complete team”. It all made perfect sense. Today, however, the Committee reversed their previous logic and crushed the dreams of the Irish players.
What happened? Let’s begin with money. Last season, Notre Dame earned a considerable windfall as an independent in its run to the national championship game. An unworthy Alabama team was left out those playoffs. The all-powerful SEC was miffed. This season’s edition of the Crimson Tide was no more deserving. On Saturday, they left a steaming pile of excrement on the turf at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Somehow, the Committee chose to reward them.
Then we have the Miami Hurricanes. Since a five-loss Duke squad won the ACC championship, the conference did not earn an automatic bid. The ACC quickly realized it would not have a single snout at the playoff money trough. Fortunately for them, their media benefactors at ESPN had already organized a campaign to prevent such an injustice.
They fed their army of talking heads with a lengthy script. Its purpose was to extol the virtues of Miami and Alabama while diminishing Notre Dame. It played on a continuous loop for three weeks leading up to today’s announcement. The objective was simple and all too obvious. Notre Dame was not going to extract more money out of the conference coffers this year.
This cabal has additional agendas at work. Number one is to force Notre Dame to join a league and share its revenues. Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevaqua addressed that issue today. “We love being independent in football. It’s part of our DNA,” he said. “We have zero intention of changing that. It’s part of who Notre Dame is. Quite frankly, this further cements our independence. We are out there fighting for ourselves. That’s something we accept.”
The second objective of the media and conference power brokers is to expand the playoffs to 16 or even 24 teams. ESPN’s ability to provoke widespread outrage over Notre Dame’s exclusion works plays right into their hands. Sadly, there is no limit to the greed at the expense of the student athletes. We know the players earn a small fraction of the overall riches through NIL deals. However, they are not awarded extra or direct compensation for playoff games. That money goes directly to ESPN and the conferences.
In the end, the Irish players are the real victims of this fraud. Coach Marcus Freeman could only attempt to console them in their bewilderment. “Usually there are reasons and answers and explanations, but we don’t have one for you with this”, he told them. If nothing else, these talented and deserving young men learned a valuable life lesson. In sports like any other big business, corruption usually follows when big money is involved.
Al says:
You’ve done an injustice to “steaming pile of excrement.”
This “Committee” does its work with zero oversight and zero accountability and there arent any real journalists calling them out. one might ask: 1.By what margin would Alabama have had to lose to warrant exclusion?100? and 2. what justifies penalizing Ohio State and BYU for losses but not Alabama? Or is it only the SEC Championship game that has no potential downside.
Shameless whores, all of them.
John E Cosgrove says:
Follow the money. SEC and ACC conferences have broadcast contracts with ESPN.
Frank Augustyniewicz says:
Well said. My daughter goes to Bama and we weee at the SEC game. We were driving home and listening to the field announcement. She looked at me and said “You got ‘screwed.’ we (Bama) shoildnt be in, we don’t deserve it”. Most Bama fans on the train after the game said they were out. Use it as fuel for next year vengeance tour. Like lacrosse did a few years ago!
RayF says:
Spot on John. The Irish got hosed. Pure greed.
George Krasnick says:
John, well said. This was a travesty. It reminds me of several years ago when a top-rated men’s lacrosse team was inexplicably left out of the playoffs. They responded by winning the next two national championships. Us against the world. The decision to not accept a bowl bid is absolutely the right decision. There would be no upside to participation and potential injury to players turning pro or coming back. There were three factors against us: 1) Catholic, with all the prejudice that comes with that, especially from the south/SEC; 2) independence and the financial realities you outlined; and 3) lack of ESPN control of ND, unlike 99% of the rest of college football. I can’t say I was completely surprised listening to that bloviating imbecile Booger MacFarland for the past few days.
Irish Coffee says:
The playoff committee is nothing but a bunch of good ‘ole boys. There is no credibility or consistency in the process whatsoever. This isn’t a playoff. This is prejudice and hatred at best.
Terry Mcintire says:
I’m so grateful for the character that Notre Dame has demonstrated by their decision to opt out of a bowl bid. This can only help ND.
GraceHallChapel86 says:
I agree 100%. All these Irish haters saying it’s a “tantrum” obviously have no life experience in being passed over in a rigged system so someone less qualified can be promoted for the benefit of the powers that be.
This will be Freeman Fuel for next season.
ND fan in the South says:
The team decision to withdraw from consideration of a bowl game shines a glaring light on the injustice and downright corruption that we all witnessed. The world knows Alabama doesn’t belong. It’s not about the Miami/Notre Dame comparison, it’s about the SEC bias and the jealousy and envy of the Irish independence.
Will says:
It was a very shocking decision for the CFP committee to reverse its prior rankings and downgrade Notre Dame. John, I fear your explanation for this decision is all too true. This was the year I thought that ND could go all the way. We will never know. I do feel strongly that this year’s Irish team is stronger than last year’s squad and that this year’s CFP field is weaker than last year’s. I am pleased that the team has voted down a bowl game for 2 reasons. First with the CFP the bowl games have become meaningless. Everyone knows this…especially the players. Why risk injury in an exhibition game so that ESPN can make more money? Eventually the bowls will fade away. Iowa State and Kansas State have also both opted out of the bowl idiocy. Second, with the transfer portal opening on January 2 this gives ND’s staff more time to devote to roster management. So be it. It is what it is. On to 2026.
LetsgoND says:
John, great write-up. This is absolutely gut wrenching. It’s plain as day that ND is a playoff team, and they are a big problem for anyone they play against. Watching the other teams in the field, ND has a great shot at winning it all.
To me, the worst part of this is: *all* that hard work. The evolution of this team. They’re beating the brakes off everyone. They’re reaching a momentum where you just know the post-season is going to be magical, yet again. It’s time to see this team unleash against the best… and then… a word is uttered from the playoff committee: “…Nope…”
Everything tossed in the garbage– just like that. With the sports analysts saying, “yeahh… ND would probably beat Miami if they played today…” *shrug* …or, “yeah, NDs chances of winning it all are darn good…” *nod then shrug*
A knee-jerk reaction was: Reject any bowl games– don’t let these bowls, businesses, networks, ESPN, et al., feast on anymore profits off this team’s back. Shut it all down. (Of course, it all depends on what the team wants. They did opt out from the looks of things. Good for them.)
And let’s sit back and watch Alabama get waxxed, again. Let’s watch James Madison and Tulane get blown up. And Miami (who we ranked above) with it’s penchant for stumbling.
Happy Holidays
David Krhovsky says:
It’s interesting. I’ve been sparring with folks all day about the Irish being denied a birth in the playoffs. The resounding response is “you’re not in a conference”. This reveals the ongoing hate for Notre Dame, but it misses the point entirely. The playoffs theoretically want to include the 12 best teams in college football. I defy anyone to convince me that the number 20 and 24 team in the rankings should be there before the Irish just because they won their conference. This is a bitter pill that it will be difficult to swallow for a long time. I can only hope that the Committee learns something from all this but, frankly, I’m skeptical.
irishhawk50 says:
If the Irish won one of the first 2 games they wouldn’t be in this fix although I agree with all you have written and it is a travesty. If Denbrock had a game plan that let Carr throw downfield maybe Miami would not have been able to stuff the box and hold Love to 33 yards or if Angeli started it may have been a completely different opened up game plan. Anyway, it is what it is and ND has an even weaker looking schedule next year so maybe even one loss will keep them out of the playoff!
I feel bad for the players who did all that was asked of them and in this College Football environment it was not enough. I guess it is a valuable lesson in life. I support the team in their decision not to go to a bowl game and wish them all the best.
I again, this year, want to sincerely thank you for all the work you do on this site and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
The Obvious says:
The DNA and tradition of Notre Dame Football is independence. No matter what, I don’t want that to change. There’s too much “change for the sake of change” in our society these days, Be Notre Dame. Stay Notre Dame. And don’t blow football games. Any football game. That’s your responsibility, Marcus Freeman. So, here we are.
Until next season … Health and Happiness to you, Notre Dame Nation and fellow alums. Let this season be a lesson learned. No more excuses. Win games. Win them all. Be Notre Dame.
goirish1988 says:
Assuming the players were consulted and agreed, I love the decision to skip the bowl game. While there may be emotional and financial reasons for the decision (I don’t understand who the winners and losers are and by how much), Bevacqua (and Freeman and the players) are returning ND to the “natty or nothing” mindset that prevailed in the late 80s and 90s before the successive terrible coaching hires and Jack “Mediocre is Good Enough” Swarbrick sent us into 30 years of misery. While I am furious about the last-minute nonsense causing us to not make the playoffs, I am still so happy we are free of the frauds BK and JS and we have real leadership now. The future is bright.
PC says:
John, You could see this coming from a mile away after last weeks inexplicable swap with Alabama. ND really couldn’t have much better of a weekend, Boise wins big, BYU loses and actually played better then score indicated and Bama gets smoked. Yes, Duke winning might’ve been the final straw but I have a feeling the fix was in from last week. Just so everyone is aware, Alabama is now the first team to lose their conference title game and not drop at all. Oh and they lost by 21, had negative rushing yards and the game wasn’t even as close as final score indicated. The ultimate injustice to our boys.
BIRGE ROBERT says:
Alabama rushed for minus-3 yards, its lowest total in a game since 2000. The only touchdown it scored against Georgia was aided by penalties.
Zahm 1974 says:
I am completely bewildered by the Irish missing the playoffs. Even Nick Saban was confused by the CFP’s idiocy. ND is better than at least 7-8 teams selected. After watching a bunch of games , I also think ND would give OSU, Indiana and Georgia a tight game, maybe even win. Since when does the CFP take a 3 loss team like Bama that was clearly floundering the last few weeks ? I am a 74 grad and can only conclude that there is significant bias against ND on that committee. ND and Miami should be in and the Tide out.Period.Damn glad the team chose to bag any other bowl games. Use other polling to pick 12 best teams and James Madison and Tulane ???
GraceHallChapel86 says:
A very astute analysis of the situation.
Farley man says:
Do not watch a single CFP game. Boycott them all. No Notre Dame fan– or for that matter any fair-minded observer– should support the corruption on display here. In retrospect, moving Alabama ahead of ND when they nearly lost to Auburn while ND stomped Stanford was a clar warning sign of their intentions all along. And then to leave Alabama ahead of both ND and Miami when they were unmasked by Georgia (could they have been beaten any worse?? -3 yards rushing??) is beyond ludicrous/nonsensical; it is corrupt.
Jeff says:
Why would ND want to remain in the ACC in any sport after what the league pulled this week? Not only were the talking heads at ESPN pumping up Miami, the ACC Network re-ran the ND-Miami game at least 10 times this past week trying to convince anyone still on the fence that head-to-head results are the most important criteria in determining CFP worthiness. We Irish fans know that hasn’t always been the case (1993).
goirish1988 says:
That 1993 reference is a good one. Two teams at the end with 1-loss records. Team A beat Team B (it was a beatdown late in the season despite the final score being close). Team B was voted the national champion by the media. Team A of course was Notre Dame and Team B was Florida State, coached by media darling Bobby Bowden, who deserved a natty gifted to him given how long he had been trying.
SOCOJoeIrish says:
When the talking heads kept mentioning head-to-head, the first thing that came to mind was the 1993 head-to-head scenario with FSU. My friends could only muster up the lame argument that ND choked to BC. Sure, but ND went on to win the bowl game and had an identical W-L record as FSU, AND THE IRISH BEAT FSU HEAD-TO-HEAD. It’s clear that college football and the networks hate ND. Merry Christmas.
Murph says:
Vannie you are right on the comments you posted. I’m disappointed for the players the school and the fans. I’m going to be short – one of God’s commandments is Thou shalt not steal. I’ll leave it at that.
NBND75 says:
Great analysis. Hypocrites and phonies at ESPN, SEC, ACC and Big Ten. All about money and nothing else. Glad we said no to making money for ESPN in a BS bowl.
Jake in Cali says:
JVAN,
This is the ultimate “Kangaroo Court” by all of the “buffoons” on the committee !!
Shameful talking heads on ESPN talking the Irish down all week…
The system is already broken and totally corrupt..
A blatant lie by the committee to the entire Notre Dame family around the world..
I’m boycotting the entire post season..
Jerrod says:
Been anticipating your write up all day Vannie. Agree with everything above. Crazy how bad we got conned. The fix was clearly in last week. I’m going to miss you all this offseason ND nation. Next year will be another great one. Too bad the sport itself is so corrupt.
Jim Blaum says:
Next year when ESPN Game Day wants to come to ND accepting ideas how to make their request worst for them: 1) Egg barrage to panel while making their pick of our game, but with 1st giving silent notice to Coach Sabin to wear rain gear; 2) boycotting not showing up…no one allowed to show up at all behind the panel; 3) bring their food trays full of the slop we were fed at dining halls between 1968-May 15,1972….heavy on the mystery meat!! More ideas welcome.☘️
NBND75 says:
Double helpings of mystery/rainbow meat! Selection show completely rehearsed- everyone knew the decision. Bad acting by Manuel pretending to change his opinion and Dinitch feigning shock.
Greg says:
Since this morning’s decision, I cannot get the word “RICO” out of my head.
Topgome says:
This is all about jealousy and hatred for ND. ND had a very real shot at winning the NC this year and that would have had the rest of college football screaming about us keeping the money that went with it. Why else are people demanding and insisting that ND join one of these craptastic conferences? The only good that I can see coming from this is that Freeman will not have to use some bizarre loss in the regular season next year to motivate his team. ND is going to punish teams on their schedule next year enroute to an undefeated season and National Championship.
mike'73 says:
To all that read Vannie consistently, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, despite the excrement that flowed out of Grapevine, Texas today. I am by no means an oracle, but as I watched the evolution of the rankings each week it became evident to me that there was something afoot, and that it would most likely cause ND to suffer. Bama was gonna get in (almost) no matter what, and Miami was moving up relentlessly. We were likely to become the sacrificial lamb to the SEC and the ACC, especially if Virginia lost the ACCCG. That drove me to get to Palo Alto for what I fully expected to be the last opportunity to see Love, Price and others play in ND uniforms. It was a long drive, and Love played very little, but it was worth it. Great environment, though that intentional injury of Love (no one will ever be able to convince me o/w) put a damper on the result, a bit. Thanks for all you do each season, John. Enjoy your respite from the struggle. GO scorched earth IRISH in ’26!!
PanDomer73 says:
Thank you JV for your insightful analysis on this most disappointing and regretful day. I feel for this team; if I thought they had a shot at a NC, imagine how they feel, losing it in the boardroom and not on the field. I love our independence, who we are, and what we stand for. This was a memorable team with a great season. Fear the Irish next year!
Dean W says:
F the committee, especially that lying hick from Arkansas. F the SEC, F Lord Saban, F the NCAA, and F ESPN. They all want ND to bend the knee and join a conference. They can’t stand to see a school that operates outside their overlapping fiefdoms. F them all. I support the team sitting this one out. And I hope the boys make those bastards pay next season.
John C says:
Looking FORWARD – thoughts on whether Freeman can convince Love and Price to stay? Given the platoon approach that helps keep them both fresh and reduces chance of injury, I can’t think of a better opportunity to bring back talent and for someone like Marcus to convincingly make that pitch to two young men.
Carr should be a preseason Heisman contender. Were Love, and Price, to stay, they would join him.
Imagine that.
Marcus has brought an intensity to the field that was glaringly absent during the Kelly and prior eras. Rage from what just happened may put us over the top. Maximum talent plus rage would equal domination.
11/7/26. Circle it. Will be a bloodbath.
Tom says:
I agree and share the outrage at being denied a CFP berth. I’m disappointed by ND’s decision to skip playing in a bowl game. Besides the “sour grapes” feeling it conveys, it prevents the team from getting some meaningful practice time. Love and Price were never going to play in a bowl game. Williams and some other potential starters for next year could have gotten some meaningful reps during practices and the game. More importantly, it sends a misguided message to the young men and women at ND about how to deal with disappointment and frustration. The leadership at ND sent a message of “We’ll take our ball and go home” rather than “ Let’s use this time to improve our team.”
John Vannie says:
I thought Pete Bevacqua explained the rationale quite well this morning. I support the decision to stay home. You can’t force players to play. Any extra practices would lack the commitment and intensity the team is known for.
Martin says:
1. The rules have always been different for Notre Dame and this time we got screwed.
2. The repercussions of this will be felt in board rooms when TV ratings crash.
3. Marcus Freeman is one of the great motivators of this time. This is motivational gold. How does Freeman use this going forward?
South Cook Irish says:
The Irish should, if legally possible, leave the ACC. How to understand the league commissioner bad-mouthing a conference member in all but football? The Irish are the only reason anyone watches teams from this woeful conference. Thanks John for a great article and reporting this season.
marleyman01 says:
C’mon guys. We are all disappointed. We observed the momentum building in the latter half of the season and saw this team really turning into a competitive group. I was excited about a dynamic young quarterback and the most outstanding backfield in recent memory. But let’s be honest. They lost the two games that really counted and then went on to play a mediocre schedule. The ND faithful appear to be gushing sour grapes. Did we get hosed? Perhaps. But should we be shocked?
Fulkerson's Ghost says:
The committee might as well pull names from a hat.
But anyone here acting surprised is a fool. If the Irish don’t run the table and there is a chance to shaft them, they are going to get shafted.
John Hutton says:
John Hutton
9:00 AM (17 minutes ago)
to viewpoint
Dear Editor,
Over the past weeks, sports news outlets have reported the reluctance of CFP-eligible teams to meet the current version of the Irish team. The Conference Football Playoff committee, also known as the College Football Playoff committee, has formalized this reluctance by excluding the Notre Dame Brotherhood, also known as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, from its playoff. It was a sophomoric error.
Notre Dame is an Independent. The 2025 ND Brotherhood is the acknowledged football champion of the nation’s independent teams. As the Independent Football Champion, the Brotherhood has the right and ability to “invite” the CFP (conference, college, or whatever) champion to a final game – say ten days after the CFP game, at a neutral site like Indianapolis.
You know, of course, that this game is a real possibility. Who would not want a true college football superbowl (excluding, of course, The Conference Football Playoff committee.) So don’t whine, growl, or grumble, Irish fans. The 2025 ND Brotherhood is alive, in shape, and waiting for the go-ahead.
John Hutton, ’62
bodysurf73@gmail.com
912-786-5116
Hurler on the Ditch says:
Great summary JV.
Hindsight being 20-20, could the Irish AD have negotiated a one time revenue split with the ACC 6 days ago, prior to the selection and exclusion of ND? Miami stays out, ND is in and the ACC all get a piece of the revenue.
ND fanatic for 64 years, I am devastated by our exclusion and with an ND team that’s better than last years runner up. Pro sports and now college football are irreparably corrupt. I need to find a new hobby.
Pete says:
The SECularization of college football, orchestrated by ESPN, is complete. A team gets beat like a stepchild, does the near impossible by rushing (?) for -3 yards, and is in at #9.
Chris Amenson says:
I was hopeful that ND would not accept a bowl bid and am very pleased it decided not to.
Next year I hope the Irish win all 12 games, are ranked #1 at the end of the season, and then AGAIN declines to participate in the college playoffs.
That would leave the Playoff Selection Committee performing a useless, fraudulent selection, just like this year.
Joseph Wells says:
Urban Meyer who formerly coached at Notre Dame has a longstanding hatred of the Fighting Irish. He argued that Alabama deserved its position despite being mauled by Georgia. Good to see Brady Quinn’s response.
Jim says:
We all know what a crock/farse this whole thing was. ESPN, Disney and all the talking heads can go pound sand. What we as ND fans need to do is lick out wounds for a couple of days, but then get over it and stop talking about it because that feeds right into the greedy ESPN/SEC narrative and they love the attention. Screw them. I will be boycotting any and all college football games the rest of the year. We need to tune out mentally and def tune out ESPN. Go Irish!