Notre Dame Ripped for 'Loser Behavior' After Team Pulls Out of Bowl Game

The Irish don't want any part in bowl season—just the CFP.

Miami got into the playoffs over Notre Dame, much to Irish fans' chagrin. / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

The Fighting Irish didn't make the College Football Playoff this year, and it's safe to say they're not taking the snub well.

Indeed, shortly after news of their exclusion was made public, Notre Dame's football team announced that, in light of the CFP committee's decision, it would not be participating in a bowl game this season.

Now, while there are certainly those in the college football world who understand and support this decision, there is also another subsection of fans all too happy to rip the Irish for what they believe to be salty, sore-loser behavior (and not just because ND's game likely would have been the fan-loved Pop-Tarts Bowl).

Take a look at that roasting below:

Rejecting a bowl bid with a current HC not being replaced just because you didn't get what you want is childish and petty

Should be an auto bowl ban for several years https://t.co/Prln6ILpjz

— Aaron Borgmann (@RehabAllStar) December 7, 2025

That will show the committee. 🙄 https://t.co/HVpypkYYqG

— David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) December 7, 2025

This is incredibly lame https://t.co/pXUrB8p4Ww

— Scott Coleman (@scottcoleman55) December 7, 2025

I always say, if things don’t go your way, take your ball and go home. Stop playing all together.

Motivational. https://t.co/SWg9FOfFr8

— Tim Donnelly (@DonnellySports) December 7, 2025

Join a conference, sore losers. https://t.co/sSzCnpektk

— David Bishop (@dlb100b) December 7, 2025

Have some respect for bowl season.

If you want to be in the playoff, win more games. https://t.co/gGbOsBZ4gy

— Andrew Alix (@AndrewAlixRadio) December 7, 2025

Bunch of cry babies https://t.co/pay0yzlQPA

— Dante J Furco (@DanteFurco) December 7, 2025

pic.twitter.com/v0teiQ86KM

— kyler (@KyBeaty) December 7, 2025

The lesson here, kids, is that if you don’t get what you want, go home and pout. https://t.co/AJQXTcRbnQ

— Louie Vaccher (@WildcatReport) December 7, 2025

I think this is incredibly lame. I get it, you're upset. Fine. But this would be a major platform for the school, program and a way for this particular team to be together one more time. Nothing says football economics like this. https://t.co/jdNNFlhPfp

— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) December 7, 2025

Let someone else make money for ESPN in the Pop Tarts Bowl. https://t.co/ezDad59RCI

— Jeff Pojanowski (@pojanowski) December 7, 2025

Oh you think you’re too good for the poptart bowl???? https://t.co/GZO9mxNnz1

— Lucy Rohden (@lucy_rohden) December 7, 2025

This is embarrassing. https://t.co/7lm0h7K9N4

— Kayce Smith (@KayceSmith) December 7, 2025

You should be embarrassed for doing this. https://t.co/1wTOvrBCUE

— Michael Borkey (@MichaelBorkey) December 7, 2025

Takes away practices for young guys and opportunity for players to get better. Throwing a tantrum because you didn’t win enough games. Smart! https://t.co/sTrJX2mT4G

— Josh Henschke (@JoshHenschke) December 7, 2025

So win a game that matters next year. Solved your problem. https://t.co/DqvaDSppel

— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) December 7, 2025

Call this what it is: self-righteous loser behaviorhttps://t.co/1jxTnlzZie

— Dieter Kurtenbach 🔥 (@dieter) December 7, 2025

Although Notre Dame finished the 2025 season with the same record as Miami, the Canes did beat the Irish back in Week 1. And in the end, that seems to have been what vaulted the U over ND and into the playoffs, even if the committee ranked the Irish above the Canes in multiple instances before Sunday.

“Overwhelming shock and sadness," athletic director Pete Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports on Sunday, referring to the committee's decision. "Like a collective feeling that we were all just punched in the stomach."

Now, instead of showing the CFP what a mistake it made in leaving them out of the dance, the Irish will instead be done for the year. No doubt this choice will be debate fodder for seasons and seasons to come.

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