Notre Dame’s decision to skip the postseason didn’t just raise eyebrows - it lit a fire under one of college football’s most respected voices. Kirk Herbstreit, never one to shy away from calling it like he sees it, is now openly questioning whether head coach Marcus Freeman was even the one who made that call. And that’s a conversation that cuts deeper than just bowl game logistics - it’s about identity, leadership, and what it means to finish what you start.
Herbstreit: This Doesn’t Sound Like Marcus Freeman
On the latest episode of Nonstop with Joey Galloway, Herbstreit didn’t mince words. He framed the opt-out decision through what he knows about Freeman - and the version of events he’s seeing doesn’t line up.
“He’s not one to not want to play a game of any kind,” Herbstreit said, pointing to Freeman’s competitive DNA. And when you consider that Notre Dame closed the regular season on a 10-game winning streak, it’s hard to imagine the head coach voluntarily walking away from a chance to keep that momentum going. Herbstreit didn’t say it outright, but he strongly implied the call may have come from higher up - outside the football facility, and into the administrative offices.
That’s a significant shift in the conversation. If this wasn’t Freeman’s call, it raises real questions about alignment within the program - and whether the football team’s competitive fire is being matched by the people making the big-picture decisions.
A Missed Opportunity - and a Statement That Didn’t Sit Right
Herbstreit didn’t hold back on his opinion of the decision itself. Unless the players themselves wanted to sit out - and there’s been no indication that was the case - he believes Notre Dame should have played. Period.
From his perspective, the Irish earned that right. Even as the first team left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff, they were still one of the top programs in the country.
Herbstreit even went as far as to say this year’s squad was better than the team that made the national title game a season ago. That’s not just a compliment - it’s a statement about how much this team had to offer, and how disappointing it was not to see them take the field one last time.
The Bowl That Wasn’t
Notre Dame wasn’t left without a postseason option. Far from it.
They were slated to play No. 12 BYU - the second team left out of the Playoff - in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
That matchup would’ve been must-see TV: two top-tier programs with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.
Instead, Notre Dame declined the invitation. The bowl pivoted to No.
22 Georgia Tech, and the reaction was swift. Fans and analysts alike questioned whether the Irish were acting like they were above the bowl system - a system that, for decades, has been a proving ground for programs looking to finish strong or build momentum into the next season.
But Herbstreit’s take shifts the lens. This might not have been about ego or entitlement from the players or coaches.
It might have been a top-down decision rooted in something else entirely - institutional philosophy, risk management, or a broader strategic stance. Whatever the reason, it’s clear it didn’t come from a place of competitive spirit.
Freeman’s Identity and the Road Ahead
What makes this situation even more complicated is what Marcus Freeman has built his program on: accountability, competition, and finishing what you start. That’s been the foundation of his tenure at Notre Dame. And sitting out a bowl game - especially with a healthy, motivated roster - doesn’t exactly fit that mold.
Freeman recently confirmed he’ll return in 2026, putting to rest a wave of NFL rumors. That’s a win for the Irish - he’s a rising star in the coaching world, and his players have clearly bought into his message.
But this bowl decision creates a disconnect. If Freeman didn’t make the call, and if his players were ready to go, then who exactly decided this team wouldn’t play?
It’s a question that lingers heading into next season. And the message for 2026 is crystal clear: control your destiny.
Don’t leave it up to committees, bowl organizers, or administrators. Leave no doubt.
Because if Herbstreit’s read is right, this decision wasn’t about the players or the head coach. It was about something bigger - and that’s a conversation Notre Dame will need to reckon with as they look to reassert their identity next fall.