Notre Dame's decision to opt out of bowl season has stirred up plenty of conversation across the college football world - and not for the reasons the program might have hoped. After finishing just outside the final four in the College Football Playoff picture, the Irish chose not to participate in a postseason bowl game at all. That move, understandably, didn’t sit well with a lot of folks around the sport.
In a year where many believed Notre Dame had a legitimate gripe about being left out of the playoff, the expectation was that they'd take that frustration and channel it into a statement performance in their bowl game. Instead, they packed it in. And in a sport built on toughness, pride, and proving yourself when the lights are still on, that choice raised eyebrows.
The comparison that’s been making the rounds is with Georgia’s situation from the 2023 season. The Bulldogs, like Notre Dame this year, were left on the outside looking in after the playoff committee made its final call.
But rather than stepping back, Georgia leaned in - and leaned in hard. They showed up in their bowl game with something to prove and took it out on Florida State in a dominant win that turned heads across the country.
Former Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley didn’t mince words when talking about the contrast between the two programs. Speaking about Georgia’s response, Dooley praised not just head coach Kirby Smart, but the entire leadership structure at UGA - including athletic director Josh Brooks and university president Jere Morehead.
“All of us Georgians should be damn proud of the leadership at UGA over there,” Dooley said. “And I’m not just talking about Kirby Smart.
Hell, we know he’s the best in the country. I’m talking about Josh Brooks and Jere Morehead.
It reminded me of several years ago when Georgia was No. 1 in the country and they get beat in the SEC Championship and get knocked out of the playoffs even though they were clearly one of the best four teams. And what did they do?
They went to work.”
That’s the kind of response that builds a program’s identity - and sustains it. Georgia didn’t sulk.
They didn’t opt out. They suited up, dominated their opponent, and used the moment as a springboard.
That mentality, Dooley argues, is what separates Georgia from the rest of the pack.
“That’s why still today, the Dawgs are the gold standard of college football,” Dooley continued. “Not only do they have the best players, but they have the right kind of leadership, teaching young people how to respond when things don’t go their way.”
And that’s the heart of the conversation. For Dooley and others, it’s not just about one bowl game or one season - it’s about culture.
Georgia’s culture under Kirby Smart doesn’t allow for quitting. It demands accountability, even when the ultimate prize is off the table.
That kind of standard doesn’t just show up in the win column - it shows up in how a team carries itself when adversity hits.
Notre Dame, by contrast, chose not to play. And while the Irish may have had their reasons, the optics aren’t great. In a sport where every game is a chance to prove who you are - to recruits, to fans, and to the players in the locker room - walking away from competition sends a message, intentional or not.
Dooley’s point is clear: Georgia didn’t just respond - they responded the right way. And for programs like Notre Dame, that’s a model worth paying attention to. Not because Georgia is perfect, but because they’ve shown what it looks like to build a culture that doesn’t back down when the going gets tough.
At the end of the day, college football is about more than playoff berths and bowl trophies. It’s about identity.
And how a team responds to disappointment often says more about its foundation than how it handles success. Georgia made a statement in 2023.
Notre Dame had that same opportunity in 2025 - and chose not to take it.