2025 College Football Thread

[WhiteTrash]

The Irish are taking their ball and going home.


https://www.on3.com/news/notre-dame-decline-bowl-invitation-after-missing-college-football-playoff/

They are not alone. ISU and K-State (maybe others?) did the same. Are bowl games a waste of time that the staff can better spend on recruiting?

[The Sultan]

They are not alone. ISU and K-State (maybe others?) did the same. Are bowl games a waste of time that the staff can better spend on recruiting?

ISU and KSU are going through coaching changes, so probably.

[WhiteTrash]

ISU and KSU are going through coaching changes, so probably.

That didn't prevent JMU, Tulane and Ole Miss from going to a bowl. 

[wadesworld]

The Irish are taking their ball and going home.


https://www.on3.com/news/notre-dame-decline-bowl-invitation-after-missing-college-football-playoff/

Incredibly on brand.

[Pakuni]

That didn't prevent JMU, Tulane and Ole Miss from going to a bowl. 

I'm thinking only one of these teams is going to a bowl.

[BM1090]

edit - wrong thread

[MU82]

The Irish are taking their ball and going home.


https://www.on3.com/news/notre-dame-decline-bowl-invitation-after-missing-college-football-playoff/

There is a string of articles in that thread, including one stating that starting next season, Notre Dame is guaranteed a playoff berth if they are ranked in the top 12. So I'm doubly glad they're not going this year.

As for not playing in an exhibition game, I don't blame them or any other team that turns down the XBox Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl or, really, any of 'em.

[WhiteTrash]

There is a string of articles in that thread, including one stating that starting next season, Notre Dame is guaranteed a playoff berth if they are ranked in the top 12. So I'm doubly glad they're not going this year.

As for not playing in an exhibition game, I don't blame them or any other team that turns down the XBox Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl or, really, any of 'em.

The whole bowl system feels very outdated for pro football.  Would anyone care about the Giants V. Raiders in a one off January game?

[WhiteTrash]

Thoughts on Saban's desire to lock out the Group of 5 from the playoff? The SEC commissioner disagrees, but I don't think he has any real influence.

[The Sultan]

Thoughts on Saban's desire to lock out the Group of 5 from the playoff? The SEC commissioner disagrees, but I don't think he has any real influence.

I think you could run into legal problems with that.

[WhiteTrash]

I think you could run into legal problems with that.

Really? How so?

[Pakuni]

Thoughts on Saban's desire to lock out the Group of 5 from the playoff? The SEC commissioner disagrees, but I don't think he has any real influence.

I may have heard him wrong, but I don't think he said lock out the G5. I think he said get rid of the autobid. That may be close to the same thing, but it would leave open  the door for a G5 program to earn its way in, as Boise State would have last year or Cincinnati in 2021.

[Pakuni]

As for not playing in an exhibition game, I don't blame them or any other team that turns down the XBox Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl or, really, any of 'em.

I think it's exceptionally lame and shortsighted. I get that their feels are hurt, but they're giving up an opportunity for extra practice, additional reps for young players, a chance for early enrollees to pratice with the team, etc. Even discounting the player development aspect, it's a chance to reward the players with a free trip in late December somewhere better (and warmer) than South Bend, Indiana. And lastly, there are a bunch of kids on that team who will never play football for Notre Dame or anyone again, and this would have given them another chance to put on the uniform and be on the field one last time.
I'm all for players sitting out bowls to protect themselves and their draft stock, but the majority of that or any roster will never play in the NFL, except maybe preseason. ND has deprived those kids of that out of petulance.

Is it an exhibition? Sure. So are most college games. Did Purdue-Minnesota mean anything? Or Wake Forest-Virginia Tech? Any Oregon State game?

[MU82]

I think it's exceptionally lame and shortsighted. I get that their feels are hurt, but they're giving up an opportunity for extra practice, additional reps for young players, a chance for early enrollees to pratice with the team, etc. Even discounting the player development aspect, it's a chance to reward the players with a free trip in late December somewhere better (and warmer) than South Bend, Indiana. And lastly, there are a bunch of kids on that team who will never play football for Notre Dame or anyone again, and this would have given them another chance to put on the uniform and be on the field one last time.
I'm all for players sitting out bowls to protect themselves and their draft stock, but the majority of that or any roster will never play in the NFL, except maybe preseason. ND has deprived those kids of that out of petulance.

Is it an exhibition? Sure. So are most college games. Did Purdue-Minnesota mean anything? Or Wake Forest-Virginia Tech? Any Oregon State game?

I believe the players themselves voted to skip the exhibition.

[Pakuni]

I believe the players themselves voted to skip the exhibition.

I'm not sure that's true, but so what? I imagine they were heartbroken about missing the playoffs and not likely in the best frame of mind for that decision a couple hours later. The grown ups in the room ought to made the decision based on what's best for the program, not their feelings being hurt. 
Notre Dame's not the first and won't be the last team to feel they were wronged by the playoff committee. They're the first I can remember who acted like this in response.

[WhiteTrash]

I may have heard him wrong, but I don't think he said lock out the G5. I think he said get rid of the autobid. That may be close to the same thing, but it would leave open  the door for a G5 program to earn its way in, as Boise State would have last year or Cincinnati in 2021.

You are correct. In practice it would eliminate G5 most years and eventually completely eliminate the G5. Valid or not, that's the SEC commish's position.

[MU82]

I'm not sure that's true, but so what? I imagine they were heartbroken about missing the playoffs and not likely in the best frame of mind for that decision a couple hours later. The grown ups in the room ought to made the decision based on what's best for the program, not their feelings being hurt. 
Notre Dame's not the first and won't be the last team to feel they were wronged by the playoff committee. They're the first I can remember who acted like this in response.

We'll agree to disagree, Pak. Have a good one.

[WhiteTrash]

I'm not sure that's true, but so what? I imagine they were heartbroken about missing the playoffs and not likely in the best frame of mind for that decision a couple hours later. The grown ups in the room ought to made the decision based on what's best for the program, not their feelings being hurt. 
Notre Dame's not the first and won't be the last team to feel they were wronged by the playoff committee. They're the first I can remember who acted like this in response.

ND has a long history of skipping bowl games.

[JWags85]

Incredibly on brand.

Perfectly matches the greater ND sentiment online right now.  Basically "we love being the exception when it works for us, but we got "screwed" by it here, so its actually a stupid rule and should be changed.  ND is bigger than this, we should host out own bowl game, it would get better ratings anyways"

I think it's exceptionally lame and shortsighted. I get that their feels are hurt, but they're giving up an opportunity for extra practice, additional reps for young players, a chance for early enrollees to pratice with the team, etc. Even discounting the player development aspect, it's a chance to reward the players with a free trip in late December somewhere better (and warmer) than South Bend, Indiana. And lastly, there are a bunch of kids on that team who will never play football for Notre Dame or anyone again, and this would have given them another chance to put on the uniform and be on the field one last time.
I'm all for players sitting out bowls to protect themselves and their draft stock, but the majority of that or any roster will never play in the NFL, except maybe preseason. ND has deprived those kids of that out of petulance.

Is it an exhibition? Sure. So are most college games. Did Purdue-Minnesota mean anything? Or Wake Forest-Virginia Tech? Any Oregon State game?

Its an interesting question about how bowl games are viewed by P5 players now.  For G5, I imagine its still amazing, even with NIL.  I remember the swag bags my friends got for bowl games, even lesser bowl games.  It was f-ing awesome for college kids.

But now if you're at a big SEC school making good NIL money each year, do you care as much about a free trip to El Paso to play in the Sun Bowl for some random goodies?  I'm sure some do, but others might not as much as a decade ago?

But as far as the extra practice, team bonding, team activities, etc... Couldn't agree more.  It seems very much like a snap decision out of protest to make themselves look bigger than everything, regardless of who is making the decision.

[WhiteTrash]

ND to the Big East?

The ND AD said the ACC has permanently damaged its relationship with the Irish. Not sure what the they can do with contract situations, but seems like the ACC went out of its way to sabotage the Irish.

Grab some popcorn and sit back.

[Billy Hoyle]

ND to the Big East?

The ND AD said the ACC has permanently damaged its relationship with the Irish. Not sure what the they can do with contract situations, but seems like the ACC went out of its way to sabotage the Irish.

Grab some popcorn and sit back.

here's the interview: https://x.com/dpshow/status/1998064300691165574

[Pakuni]

ND to the Big East?

The ND AD said the ACC has permanently damaged its relationship with the Irish. Not sure what the they can do with contract situations, but seems like the ACC went out of its way to sabotage the Irish.

Grab some popcorn and sit back.

Notre Dame very mad because the ACC did the unforgivable by advocating for one of its members.
Just when you think the Domers couldn't get any more insufferable.

[WhiteTrash]

Notre Dame very mad because the ACC did the unforgivable by advocating for one of its members.
Just when you think the Domers couldn't get any more insufferable.

I don't really care who's right or wrong, but any hopes or dreams the ACC had of ND becoming a full time member have died. Maybe at better basketball conference home in the BE makes sense?

[Pakuni]

I don't really care who's right or wrong, but any hopes or dreams the ACC had of ND becoming a full time member have died. Maybe at better basketball conference home in the BE makes sense?

Notre Dame cares too much about its nonrevenue sports to park them in the Big East.

[WhiteTrash]

Notre Dame cares too much about its nonrevenue sports to park them in the Big East.

That sounds right. ND will extract it's pound of flesh from the ACC some other way.