After failing to make the 12-team College Football Playoff, the University of Notre Dame football program has officially withdrawn itself from all other bowl consideration for this season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The program released a short statement to social media communicating the decision: “As a team, we’ve decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season. 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 endured a tough start to the season, dropping a 27-24 heartbreaker against Miami in Week 1 and a 41-40 thriller at home to Texas A&M in Week 2. From there, they unleashed a ferocious 10-game winning streak, capping the regular season at 10-2 and earning a No. 11 ranking in the final CFP poll.
Quarterback CJ Carr shone brightly, completing 66.6% of his passes for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns across 12 games. Running back Jeremiyah Love dominated on the ground with 1,128 yards and 15 scores, while the defense clamped down, surrendering just 17.6 points per game. Standout victories featured a 70-7 demolition of Syracuse and a 49-20 road rout of Stanford.
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Dominant across the board, Notre Dame’s late surge positioned them for postseason contention. Yet, the selection committee edged them out of the 12-team CFP field, favoring Miami on head-to-head and Alabama’s resume—leaving the Irish to ponder a bittersweet campaign and regroup for 2026.
Featured image via Michael Caterina/Imagn Images
