Insufferable, Thy Name Is Notre Dame

In just their simplicity and shine, Notre Dame’s gold helmets help compose one of the most recognizable uniforms in all sports, not just in College Football. Fans of old may say that the gold Notre Dame flashes is representative of the Golden Dome on campus, or the streets of Heaven as seen by the Apostle John. Current fans, though, seem to take pride in Notre Dame gold representing the sheer bank that the football program brings to campus and refuses to split with the ACC.

Despite bringing in $143 million annually, and living in a world where NIL and the big bucks determine who rules Saturdays in the fall, what has that money really bought for the Irish? It sure hasn’t bought them a championship, as Lou Holtz’s natty back in 1988 is the last time the Irish can be tied to winning. Nowadays, Notre Dame is remembered for choking the big game away rather than winning it, as seen in 2012 versus Alabama and in last year’s CFP Championship loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Naturally, Notre Dame’s resources and money in the modern era of College Football will always lead to a competitive and talented roster, which they fielded this year. So to better their chances of making it back to the CFP, why not do what the rest of the university’s athletic programs do and join the ACC moving forward? Logic aside, simply suggesting or merely thinking this in front of Irish fans comes off as an insult to them from the rest of the “weaker, undeserving, peasant” College Football fans in the peanut gallery.

The sheer hubris that many have exhibited online, with Notre Dame’s financial gains, storied history, and prestige being a persuasive collective argument to remain independent from joining a conference, is pathetic. Sadly, this mindset isn’t just shared by their fans, but also by those running the show in South Bend. In fact, Notre Dame is so confident in their self-renowned independence that Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua ripped into their step-brother, the ACC, in a fit of immaturity following their denial into this year’s Playoff.

In a recent interview on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Bevacqua said the ACC’s failure to stand beside Notre Dame, while supporting the fully ACC-integrated Miami Hurricanes, caused “permanent damage” between the two organizations. Irish fans, what is the ACC supposed to do in their position? Support the university that’s a full member of their conference, or apologize for even associating with Miami, and then mimic a weak parent by giving their spoiled child whatever it wants when it starts screaming?

Because they still don’t seem to understand that conference championships equal an automatic bid, Notre Dame decided to double down on their tantrum because, like all self-righteous institutions, they gained special treatment. Last spring, the university organized a unique memorandum of understanding with CFP officials that practically guarantees them a spot in the Playoff if they finish ranked in the Top 12. 2026 is still too far away, though, so when the team didn’t make it in 2025 (should’ve beat Miami), fans decided to turn the Internet into their own personal extended echo chamber and scream incessantly.

Be careful what you wish for, Irish fans. Because of this special arrangement, it seems that many athletic directors at competing universities are having second thoughts about scheduling Notre Dame in future campaigns. It may have already had an impact on their storied rivalry with the USC Trojans, who’ll be replaced by the Pop-Tarts Bowl-bound BYU Cougars the next two seasons.

It would be ironic seeing the Irish left to the mercy of playing teams like Navy and UMass every year to earn their CFP bid, sporting them with a strength of schedule reminiscent of a Conference USA team. Even then, fans will continue to gripe and cry about it when they don’t earn a bid, and the cycle of changing the tournament around their needs will simply begin again.

Notre Dame Is Too Prestigious To Play In Bowl Games

Parents of young Notre Dame fans have to love the message that their child’s favorite team is sending them — if you’re unhappy with something, quit! This is exactly what the Irish did when announcing that they would be refusing all bowl game invitations for the 2025-2026 season following their CFP snub. Irish fans have to be proud that their team’s actions may have actually killed Bowl Season for everyone, especially those pitiful G5 teams who are so obviously beneath them.

The Kansas State Wildcats, Iowa State Cyclones, and several 5-7 teams have since turned down invitations to end their season on one last hurrah following Notre Dame’s actions. While they may have all done so for different reasons, the glitz and glamor of playing in a bowl game have been withering away since the CFP’s institution and expansion. Now that a historic program like Notre Dame has backed out, many other programs may feel more justified in following their example.  

Reminiscent of a pouting child not wanting to be at a family function, the Irish decided to throw a tantrum so loud and obnoxious that they may have ruined it for everyone else. Could it even kill said function in the coming years? Maybe … and what’s worse is that they seemingly don’t care how the causes of their actions may affect other programs that’d love the chance to play a bowl game and promote their school. The revenue for a university and the collective experience for its student-athletes are still invaluable, though, so is there a way to fix this?

What if a penalty was instituted that revoked a school’s College Football Playoff eligibility the following year, should they deny their bowl game invitation? If that went through, South Bend might explode.

Notre Dame Is Leagues Beyond G5 Competition

September 10, 2022: Marshall Thundering Herd – 26, Notre Dame – 21

September 7, 2024: Northern Illinois Huskies – 16, Notre Dame – 14

The trend seems to be a loss against a G5 team every two years, so all eyes are on their game against the Rice Owls on September 12, 2026. For good measure, next year’s schedule showcases the Irish playing six teams that finished 2025 with four wins or fewer.

Thank God for that MOU.

End Of My Notre Dame Rant

Pride always comes before the fall, and the Irish seem to be racing toward a self-destructive path fueled by the endless fury emanating in their collective echo chamber. Athletic directors could begin avoiding them, weaker competition may be all that’s left to play, and CFP Officials may have no breaks to give them if their strength of schedule sucks. Things could become so bleak that their special arrangement with the CFP, which only they have, could also be all for naught.

If the university’s response hasn’t been insufferable enough, turn to their fans, who’ve continued to simply win the internet over since Non-Selection Sunday. Remind Irish fans how teams were selected for the 2025-2026 College Football Playoff — screaming ensues. Remind them that they lost to Miami — screaming ensues.

Remind them that if they were in the ACC, like in 2020, they’d have probably won the conference and been in the CFP — screaming ensues. Remind them that Duke being selected over Tulane or JMU as the fifth conference champion still wouldn’t have gotten them in the CFP — screaming ensues.

Irish fans have made their case, and they have merit. However, the nonstop rage, envy, and antagonism against both the CFP system and fans of G5 schools who simply enjoyed seeing their teams compete in the Playoff have become a disgusting embarrassment for the university.