Notre Dame Turns Down Bowl Game Opportunity For 2025

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Notre Dame fans hoping to see the 2025 Fighting Irish play in one more game won't get that opportunity, as the program announced today on X that they have removed themselves from consideration from playing in a bowl. Notre Dame was rightfully upset that it was not selected for the College Football Playoff, and now the team decided that the 2025 season would officially be over for them.

Notre Dame did not announce why they chose not to play in this game, but it's obviously a reaction to being dropped out of the College Football Playoff. Perhaps it's due to the majority of bowl games they were eligible for being on ESPN, and perhaps they don't want to give a network that spent a month campaigning against Notre Dame the ratings boost. I can speculate but as of now we don't know why they made the decision, all the program announced was they were not playing.

While this is an understandable decision from the standpoint of the team being robbed from a playoff bid, it does hurt the team to a degree as well. Notre Dame would have had the opportunity to get 15 more practices and play another game. While many veterans ready for the NFL would sit out, that's a great opportunity for younger players that will be part of the 2026 team to get some much-needed work. If Malachi Fields decided not to play in the bowl – for example – it's a great chance for young players like Cam Williams and Micah Gilbert some work.

Notre Dame's players and coaches are frustrated, and they have every right to be. What happened to this team was unfortunate and evidence of a corrupt system. But depriving players and fans of another opportunity to play together and for the fans to watch them. While understandable, it's a decision I have a hard time accepting.

Notre Dame now finishes the 2025 season with a 10-2 record and at No. 11 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Notre Dame finished ranked No. 9 in the final Associated Press poll.

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