College Football Postseason Shake-Up: Notre Dame Snubbed, Big 12 Teams Fined for Declining Bowls
Notre Dame missed the College Football Playoff despite a strong season. Iowa State and Kansas State declined bowl invitations, incurring $500,000 fines from the Big 12.
Breitbart NewsNotre Dame Withdraws from Bowl Game Consideration After CFP Committee Snub
USA TODAYDeal with it, Notre Dame. CFP, bowl season doesn't need Irish anymore
Chicago Sun-TimesNotre Dame, left out of college football playoff, declines bowl consideration
NBC NewsNotre Dame opts to skip postseason entirely after being left out of College Football Playoff
Overview
Notre Dame, finishing 10-2 with a 10-game winning streak, was excluded from the College Football Playoff, ranking 11th and missing the 12-team bracket after an early loss to Miami.
Following their playoff exclusion, Notre Dame announced its decision not to participate in a bowl game, concluding their season after narrowly missing the national championship contention.
The Big 12 Conference imposed substantial $500,000 fines on both Iowa State and Kansas State for their choice to decline invitations to postseason bowl games.
Iowa State and Kansas State, despite being eligible for postseason play, opted out of their respective bowl games, leading to the unprecedented financial penalties from their conference.
These decisions by prominent college football programs underscore the evolving landscape of postseason play and the financial implications for teams and conferences.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing Notre Dame's strong performance and perceived unfair exclusion from the College Football Playoff. They highlight the team's winning streak and "high road" approach, contrasting it with Alabama's inclusion. The narrative suggests Notre Dame has the "biggest gripe," amplifying the sense of injustice through evaluative language and structural choices.