The College Football Playoff field is set, but the noise surrounding Notre Dame’s absence hasn’t quieted down. Two weeks ago, the Fighting Irish made the rare decision to opt out of bowl season altogether-a move that raised eyebrows but also sent a clear message. After being left out of the 12-team CFP field, despite a top-four ranking in ESPN’s Football Power Index, Notre Dame decided it wasn’t interested in a consolation prize.
The frustration stems from how the final rankings shook out. Notre Dame, as an independent, isn’t eligible for one of the automatic bids reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions.
This season, that meant Group of Five teams James Madison and Tulane earned spots in the playoff. The result?
Both were quickly dispatched in lopsided first-round matchups. For context: ESPN’s FPI had Notre Dame at No.
- James Madison and Tulane?
No. 28 and No. 53, respectively.
That disparity has reignited the long-running debate about Notre Dame’s independent status in football-and whether it’s helping or hurting the program in the playoff era. Former Alabama coach Nick Saban has been among those who publicly stated that Notre Dame belonged in the field. But not everyone agrees.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire, whose Red Raiders are preparing to face No. 5 Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals, didn’t hold back when asked about the playoff format and Notre Dame’s exclusion.
“It’s really tough, because you hate to eliminate anybody,” McGuire said. “But I do think that when you have a criteria of where you’re going to select a team, everybody should be in that same criteria.
So-and I don’t wanna make Notre Dame mad-but be in a conference, and you’re in the playoffs. If they’re in the ACC, they’re in the playoffs.”
That wasn’t McGuire’s first jab at the Irish. Back in November, after Texas Tech beat BYU, he made a point to praise the Cougars for joining the Big 12-and not just for their on-field performance.
“I have so much respect for BYU,” McGuire said after that win. “I was really excited whenever they joined the Big 12 because I think that they carry a lot of weight and a lot of respect. I think that I have a lot of respect for them entering a conference and not playing an independent schedule like other people-y’all already know who that is.”
McGuire’s comments were clearly aimed at Notre Dame, even if he didn’t say the name. And while he’s not alone in that sentiment, the reality is a bit more complicated than “join a conference, get in the playoff.”
For starters, McGuire’s argument that Notre Dame would’ve been in the playoff had they been in the ACC isn’t entirely accurate. Texas Tech beat BYU again in the Big 12 title game, knocking the Cougars out of contention.
And despite the noise, BYU doesn’t seem to hold Notre Dame’s independence against them. In fact, the two schools have agreed to a home-and-home series beginning in 2026-a deal that came together after Notre Dame’s long-standing rivalry with USC was not extended.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has taken a different approach. He’s avoided calling out other programs or engaging in the public back-and-forth. During National Signing Day and other media sessions leading up to Selection Sunday, Freeman kept things focused on his team, not the politics of the playoff.
Still, that hasn’t stopped the criticism from elsewhere-especially from within the Big 12. Conference commissioner Brett Yormark recently took a swipe at Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, who was reportedly frustrated with the ACC for lobbying to get Miami into the playoff.
“I think Pete’s behavior has been egregious,” Yormark said. “It’s been egregious going after Jim Phillips, when they saved Notre Dame during COVID. … The chair said that as Notre Dame and Miami got closer together, head-to-head would be a factor, OK?”
What Yormark left out is that Notre Dame actually played a key role in helping the ACC navigate the COVID season. Then-AD Jack Swarbrick was instrumental in convincing the ACC to delay canceling its 2020 season, helping the Irish join the conference temporarily and play a full 10-game slate. That cooperation likely wouldn’t have happened without Swarbrick’s leadership.
Despite the criticism, Notre Dame’s independent model isn’t going anywhere-at least not for now. And of the Power Four conferences, the Big 12 arguably has the least pull when it comes to influencing the Irish. But that hasn’t stopped the public posturing.
Behind the scenes, Bevacqua and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips recently met in New York City for a two-hour meeting aimed at repairing their working relationship. Bevacqua also noted that he speaks regularly with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, including multiple conversations in the days following Notre Dame’s CFP snub.
So while the Irish may be out of the playoff-and out of bowl season entirely-their presence is still being felt across the college football landscape. The debate over independence, conference affiliation, and playoff access isn’t going away anytime soon. But if Notre Dame continues to field one of the best teams in the country, the pressure on the system-not the Irish-might be what eventually has to change.