Notre Dame's bold move reignites questions about FSU football's direction after snub

Drama surrounding the College Football Playoff seems to be here to stay, and there won't be a December in the near future without coaching changes, snubs, bowl games missed, NIL shakedowns, and a Transfer Portal window looming to reshape a shaky landscape.

Notre Dame’s choice to opt out of its bowl game after being snubbed underscores the stance Florida State should have taken in 2023.

Notre Dame Says 'No'

Nov 22, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates with players after scoring against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

FSU went on an undefeated ACC Championship run in 2023, winning the conference outright, but was ultimately snubbed from the College Football Playoff, leaving much of the country confused, accusatory, and questioning the decision-making behind closed doors in Grapevine, Texas.

Following Notre Dame's 10-2 season, they were left out of this year's playoff in favor of 10-3 Alabama and a 10-2 Miami team, both of which either lost their conference championship games or didn't participate in them at all. The fact that Notre Dame is independent shouldn't detract from what is obvious.

pic.twitter.com/TyzavvzpC1
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 7, 2025

When Opting Out Becomes the Only Leverage

Nov 29, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell gestures against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Notre Dame's recent decision to opt out of its Pop-Tarts Bowl bid against BYU is a stance worth examining. Rather than having an entire draft-ready team check out mentally in what, in new light, has become this age of college football, a decision to forego the semantics might be in the best interest of the team.

Florida State lived the other side of that decision in 2023, absorbing a 63-3 Orange Bowl beating from Georgia after its own playoff snub. It’s not an exact mirror, but the takeaway is the same.

The sport’s postseason framework is failing the very teams it is expected to reward. And as programs like Notre Dame, FSU, Kansas State, and Iowa State opt out of postseason showdowns, the message becomes harder to ignore. In today’s college football, sometimes the only winning move is refusing to play along.

Until the postseason offers incentives beyond profit-driven decisions, teams will continue making business choices that protect their futures rather than pacify a broken system.

Stick with NoleGameday for more FREE coverage of Florida State Football throughout the 2025 season

Follow NoleGameday on and Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

More Florida State News

FSU football flips IMG Academy standout from Syracuse Orange

Former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier takes shot at FSU, Mike Norvell

Lawayne McCoy reflects on frustrating season, future for Florida State

Mike Norvell promises plan for FSU football but offers no real specifics