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The Playoff Fiasco: Notre Dame’s Snub and the Making of a Controversial CFP Bracket

The Playoff Fiasco: Notre Dame’s Snub and the Making of a Controversial CFP Bracket

The college football world is abuzz following the release of the final 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, which set the 12-team field and ignited a firestorm of debate.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / A to Z Sports / December 9
Urban Meyer offers advice to Marcus Freeman as the NFL continues pursuing the Notre Dame head coach for various HC openings

Urban Meyer offers advice to Marcus Freeman as the NFL continues pursuing the Notre Dame head coach for various HC openings

Now that the 2025 college football season is officially over for Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish fanbase is going to have to be ready to deal with the constant rumors surrounding head coach Marcus Freeman and other job openings.

Stephen A Smith News / The SportsRush / December 9
Stephen A. Smith Dissects Who & What is To Be Blamed for Notre Dame’s CFP Snub

Stephen A. Smith Dissects Who & What is To Be Blamed for Notre Dame’s CFP Snub

Notre Dame isn’t just disappointed, it’s livid. And Stephen A. Smith made it abundantly clear why the Fighting Irish feel the College Football Playoff committee, the ACC, and even their own independence all share a piece of the blame for their CFP snub.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Gridiron Heroics / December 9
'Cowardly, Immature and Pathetic': Former NFL Player Did Not Hold Back on Notre Dame

'Cowardly, Immature and Pathetic': Former NFL Player Did Not Hold Back on Notre Dame

Notre Dame’s decision to withdraw from bowl consideration after missing the College Football Playoff has sparked widespread criticism, and one former NFL linebacker delivered the harshest response.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / NBC Sports / December 9
College Football News / College Football Talk / December 9

Notre Dame’s Love, Indiana’s Mendoza, Vanderbilt’s Pavia, Ohio State’s Sayin named Heisman finalists

The Heisman Trophy Trust announced the four finalists Monday night who are invited to New York for the award presentation Saturday night.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Yardbarker / December 9
Joel Klatt makes frustrating point about Notre Dame missing CFP

Joel Klatt makes frustrating point about Notre Dame missing CFP

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish aren't going to be in the college football playoff. Heck, they're not even going to be in college football's postseason because they've declined to play in a bowl game.

After missing CFP, Notre Dame declines bowl game invite
Paul Finebaum rips Notre Dame's reaction to missing CFP: 'Quite frankly embarrassing'
CFP-snubbed Notre Dame should have played in bowl
'Permanent damage'? CFP-snubbed Notre Dame vents about ACC
College players whose NFL draft stock has risen the most this season
The 'Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year' quiz
Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Softball On SI / December 8

Beloved Former Notre Dame Softball Coach Passes Away

Former Notre Dame head softball coach Liz Miller sadly passed away on Dec.5.  With 24 seasons of coaching overall, including 17 at Lake Michigan College

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Sports Media Watch / December 8

News: Paramount-WBD, Comcast, Notre Dame and more

The following article "News: Paramount-WBD, Comcast, Notre Dame and more" originally appeared on Sports Media Watch. The latest on Paramount’s hostile takeover attempt for Warner Bros.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Yardbarker / December 8
Paul Finebaum rips Notre Dame's reaction to missing CFP

Paul Finebaum rips Notre Dame's reaction to missing CFP: 'Quite frankly embarrassing'

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish won't be in the College Football Playoff. This is even though Marcus Freeman's team finished 10-2 while riding a 10-game winning streak.

After missing CFP, Notre Dame declines bowl game invite
CFP-snubbed Notre Dame should have played in bowl
'Permanent damage'? CFP-snubbed Notre Dame vents about ACC
College players whose NFL draft stock has risen the most this season
The 'College football color teams' quiz
Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / A to Z Sports / December 8
Notre Dame football has a clear decision that they need to make following the controversial final CFB Playoff decision

Notre Dame football has a clear decision that they need to make following the controversial final CFB Playoff decision

It has been an extremely frustrating 24 hours for Notre Dame football and its proud fan base. After both the Alabama Crimson Tide and the BYU Cougars lost

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / College Football Talk / December 8

Why did Notre Dame’s August loss cost the Irish a playoff spot in December?

As it turned out, the most important game impacting the most important decision the College Football Playoff selection committee made in 2025 took place in August.

Dan Patrick News / NBC Sports / December 8
Joe Theismann News / Larry Brown Sports / December 8
Joe Theismann sounds off on Notre Dame’s ‘disgusting’ CFP snub

Joe Theismann sounds off on Notre Dame’s ‘disgusting’ CFP snub

Former Notre Dame standout Joe Theismann is among those who feel the Fighting Irish were robbed of a College Football Playoff berth, but he thinks the Miami Hurricanes should not have been omitted instead.

Marcus Freeman News / Athlon Sports / December 8
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame Dealt Unfortunate News After College Football Season

Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame Dealt Unfortunate News After College Football Season

Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were one of the hottest teams in the country heading into Selection Sunday. Notre Dame won 10 straight games after suffering two early losses in the beginning of the season.

College football exec declares bowl games ‘officially dead’ amid new controversy

College football exec declares bowl games ‘officially dead’ amid new controversy

The decision by Notre Dame to not play in a bowl game could have sweeping consequences not only for the playoff system, but also regarding the future of the national college football bowl system itself.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / The Spun / December 8
Notre Dame Athletic Director Issues 'Warning' To The ACC

Notre Dame Athletic Director Issues 'Warning' To The ACC

There'll be no College Football Playoff for the Fighting Irish this year — or any postseason play for that matter — after being passed up by the selection committee this past weekend.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Yardbarker / December 8
'Permanent damage'? CFP-snubbed Notre Dame vents about ACC

'Permanent damage'? CFP-snubbed Notre Dame vents about ACC

Notre Dame has continued its ranting following its exclusion from the College Football Playoff, this time taking aim at the ACC.

Notre Dame declining bowl game following CFP snub is valid
CFP-snubbed Notre Dame should have played in bowl game
Paul Finebaum rips Notre Dame's reaction to missing CFP
Joel Klatt makes frustrating point about Notre Dame missing CFP
Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz had great reason for accepting bowl invitation
CFP selection show takeaways: Was Alabama a deserving selection?
Brady Quinn News / The Spun / December 8
Legendary Notre Dame Football Star Brady Quinn Rips ESPN

Legendary Notre Dame Football Star Brady Quinn Rips ESPN

One of Notre Dame's most famous alums is taking ESPN to task after his alma mater was left out of the College Football Playoff. Despite going 10-2 with

Dick Vitale News / Athlon Sports / December 8
Dick Vitale Has Strong Words After Notre Dame Misses Out on College Football Playoff

Dick Vitale Has Strong Words After Notre Dame Misses Out on College Football Playoff

The College Football Playoff rankings were released on Sunday following the conference championship games, and some people are not happy. The grievances primarily involve three teams: the Alabama Crimson Tide, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Miami Hurricanes.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Mike Farrell Sports / December 8

Why Did Miami Go to the Playoff Over Notre Dame?

The College Football Playoff bracket was decided on Dec. 7 and going into it No. 11 Notre Dame (10-2) had an 87 percent chance to go to the CFP, while No.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Larry Brown Sports / December 8
Notre Dame athletic director unloads on the ACC

Notre Dame athletic director unloads on the ACC

Everyone associated with Notre Dame is furious with the College Football Playoff selection committee for leaving the Fighting Irish out of this year’s tournament, and athletic director Pete Bevacqua says those feelings of frustration extend toward the ACC as well.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / CFB-HQ on SI / December 8
Notre Dame AD says College Football Playoff politics damaged relationship with ACC

Notre Dame AD says College Football Playoff politics damaged relationship with ACC

Following the relase of the 2025 College Football Playoff bracket, there's one athletic director madder than a wet hornet: Notre Dame's Pete Bevacqua. His Fighting Irish were left on the cutting room floor on Sunday's selection show after the committee opted to slide Miami above ND and into the field, leaving Marcus Freeman's group out.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Notre Dame Fighting Irish on SI / December 8
Notre Dame Declines Non-CFP Bowl Invite: Right Or Wrong Decision?

Notre Dame Declines Non-CFP Bowl Invite: Right Or Wrong Decision?

After all of the drama, all of the debate, all of the arguments made, the CFP committee did what Irish fans feared most all along: flip the Irish for Miami in the final CFP poll.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Notre Dame Fighting Irish on SI / December 8
A Notre Dame Fan's 5 Biggest CFP Committee Complaints

A Notre Dame Fan's 5 Biggest CFP Committee Complaints

College football fans and media rarely agree on anything. That being said, I think everyone who follows the sport closely could agree that the way the CFP committee operates is incredibly frustrating.

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