The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a very legitimate gripe about the Alabama Crimson Tide making the College Football Playoff over them. On3's Brett McMurphy is salty about Notre Dame's decision regardless, though.
While reporting on the FSU Seminoles, Auburn Tigers, UCF Knights, Baylor Bears, and Rutgers Scarlet Knights deciding not to accept bowl invites, McMurphy took a potshot at the Fighting Irish's pettiness.
"Florida State, Auburn, UCF, Baylor & Rutgers are the 5-7 teams that declined a bowl bid, sources told On3 Sports. Of course, these teams thought season was over 2 weeks ago & players have scattered. They didn't - you know - quit because they didn't make the playoff," McMurphy wrote.
Notre Dame released a statement after their CFP snub, claiming the penultimate rankings were a "farce." Those post-Week 14/pre-conference championship rankings gave the impression Alabama would fall below the Miami Hurricanes and Fighting Irish with an SEC Championship loss.
"As a team, we've decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season," said a statement credited to the 2025 Notre Dame Football Team. "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."
Per Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger, "As part of an MOU signed last spring, Notre Dame is assured of a CFP berth if it is ranked in the top 12 starting next year," and that "If this year’s situation unfolds next year, the final at-large team (Miami) would have gotten bumped for No. 11 Notre Dame."
The Fighting Irish truly don't have much to complain about in the grand scheme, but this year's heartbreak has them feeling like the 2023 Seminoles. Of course, the difference is FSU was undefeated and actually won a conference championship that year.
Notre Dame will be in good position to make it next year, and every future CFP pitch will benefit them and make certain that the Fighting Irish won't get screwed like this ever again.