Notre Dame was the first team out of the 12-team College Football Playoff, and they have now declined to play in a bowl game.
The Fighting Irish went 10-2 on the season, winning their final 10 games of the season, but they watched as Alabama and Miami each made the 12-team field, leading to their decision to opt out of bowl game consideration.
“As a team, we’ve decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season,” a statement from the university read. “We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we’re hoping to bring the 12th national title to South Bend in 2026.”
The Fighting Irish lost their first two games of the regular season to Miami and Texas A&M, both of whom made the playoff field that was announced on Sunday morning.
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After that, the Irish won 10 consecutive games, including blowout wins over ranked USC and Pitt, to go 10-2 on the regular season.
Notre Dame ended up with the 11th spot in the final College Football Playoff rankings, but it wasn’t enough to earn a spot in the 12-team field as Sun Belt-champion James Madison and American-champion Tulane each won spots thanks to their conference championships.
Iowa State and Kansas State, both of whom are hiring new coaches for next season, have also declined to participate in bowl games, and will be fined by the NCAA.
It was not immediately clear if Notre Dame would be assessed a fine for not participating in a bowl game.
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