Notre Dame Coach Marcus Freeman Responds to Team's Omission from Playoff

Marcus Freeman, head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, found himself grappling with disbelief after the team was excluded from the 2025 College Football Playoff. The announcement came during the CFP Selection Show on December 7, leaving the atmosphere around the team notably subdued.

Jen Lada, reporting from the event, noted that the mood shifted dramatically once it became clear Notre Dame would not be part of the playoff picture. “Freeman usually has insights or explanations for these situations,” Lada remarked, “but this time he was at a loss. He said it doesn’t make sense and that it doesn’t add up.”

Ranked consistently in the top 10 throughout the season, Notre Dame fell to 11th place after the University of Miami leapfrogged them in the final rankings, despite both teams being idle that week. This unexpected shift left the Irish as the first team out of contention.

In a statement to Yahoo Sports, athletic director Pete Bevacqua expressed frustration over the committee's decision, stating there was “no explanation” for Notre Dame’s exclusion. “I told Freeman that any rankings leading up to this last one are a complete farce,” Bevacqua said. “Why put these young athletes through this emotional rollercoaster only to have their dreams dashed by a group of people in a room?”

Later that day, Notre Dame announced they would not participate in any bowl games this season. “As a team, we’ve decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season,” they stated. “We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we’re aiming for our 12th national title in 2026.”

Selection committee chair Hunter Yurachek clarified the decision, explaining that Miami’s rise in the rankings was pivotal. “Once we moved Miami ahead of BYU, we had that side-by-side comparison everyone was eager for,” Yurachek explained. “On paper, both teams were nearly equal in terms of schedule strength and results against common opponents.”

However, he emphasized that head-to-head results ultimately influenced their decision. The two teams faced off on August 31, with Miami securing a narrow 27-24 victory.

Notre Dame fans were not only puzzled by their team's exclusion but also by Alabama's retention at No. 9 despite a significant loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game just days prior.

Looking ahead, Freeman and Bevacqua are optimistic about future opportunities. As an independent team, Notre Dame lacks access to a conference championship game before playoff selections. However, Bevacqua confirmed that they have signed a memorandum with CFP officials ensuring a guaranteed playoff spot if they finish in the top 12 of the rankings in subsequent seasons.