Notre Dame Declines Bowl Game After CFP Snub

In a surprising turn of events, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have decided to withdraw from bowl game consideration after being excluded from the College Football Playoff, as reported by multiple sources.

Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua expressed overwhelming shock and sadness, stating, 'We feel like the playoff was stolen from our student-athletes.' Notre Dame was ranked ninth before dropping to eleventh, despite a 10-game winning streak, and a 49-20 victory in their final game.

The final at-large spots in the playoff went to Alabama and Miami, the latter having defeated Notre Dame earlier in the season, which played a pivotal role in the committee's decision, according to committee chairman Hunter Yurachek.

Bevacqua criticized the selection process, calling earlier rankings a 'joke' and questioning the rationale behind the committee's decision-making. Following their exclusion, Notre Dame received an invitation to the Pop-Tarts Bowl against BYU, but chose to decline, emphasizing their aim to compete for a national championship instead.

This decision has drawn mixed reactions from fans, with some criticizing the school for appearing to be 'soft' for not participating in a bowl game. Notre Dame's decision reflects a broader frustration with the CFP selection process, especially as they had previously been consistently ranked ahead of Miami and Alabama.

The statement released by Notre Dame highlighted their commitment to their student-athletes and their aspirations for a national title in the future.