After being controversially excluded from the College Football Playoff, the 9th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish have expressed outrage and subsequently rejected an invitation to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, citing 'overwhelming shock and sadness' over the decision.
The 9th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish, despite winning their last ten games by an average of nearly 30 points, were dramatically left out of the College Football Playoff, leading them to turn down an invitation to the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua described the team's reaction as 'overwhelming shock and sadness,' feeling 'punched in the stomach' and declaring that the 'playoff was stolen' from their student-athletes. The snub stemmed from their 0-2 start, including a Week 1 loss to Miami, which the selection committee re-evaluated, finding Miami to have 'more athleticism.' As an independent, Notre Dame lacked a conference championship game to bolster their case. This decision not only denies seniors a final game and underclassmen practice but also raises questions about the future of non-playoff bowl games. Interestingly, Notre Dame, not being a full ACC member, will not face fines for opting out, unlike some Big 12 teams. The controversy is further fueled by Alabama, a three-loss team, making the CFP, justified by their strength of schedule, while Notre Dame's perfect run for nearly three months was deemed insufficient.
