Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman reacts on the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Godofredo A. Vásquez
November 29, 2025
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COLUMN: College football playoff selection was a mess
It’s not a normal day in December if college football teams are not throwing their hands in the air after being left out of the college football playoff. This year the drama surrounded what the playoff committee should do about Miami, Alabama and Notre Dame. After conference championship weekend, it ended up being Miami and Bama getting the nod and the Fighting Irish being left out. While I agree that the committee got it wrong, what has been more disappointing to see is Notre Dame and other schools reactions to playing in bowl games and not in the playoffs. ND was one of nine schools declining the invitation to play a bowl game this season. Moreso in the Fighting Irish’s case, this mentality around not playing in a bowl game shows a quitter's attitude because you did not do what you needed to do to make the playoffs.