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Putting the Notre Dame opt out into perspective.

Posted on 12/9/25 at 9:47 am
Posted by SemperFiDawg
Member since Sep 2014
4138 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 9:47 am
In 2023 Number 1 ranked UGA 12-0 lost to Bama in the SECCG by 3 points....three freaking points. They fell from #1 to #6 and were left out of the Playoffs. They didn't opt out, their players didn't opt out. They went on to play FSU in the Orange Bowl in Miami. UGA beat FSU by 60 points. A lot
of FSU players did opt out as they felt entitled to be in the playoffs just like ND. Ironically or maybe not, that was the last time FSU was relevant. Team mentality matters. ND's choice to opt out is an entitlement mentality that breeds more losing when it matters most. May ND go the same way of FSU.
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
105692 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 9:49 am to
Teams get left out almost every year that feel slighted. They’ve all sucked it up and gone and played a meaningless bowl - some how shown up and been great, some have shown up and gotten a little embarrassed. But all have physically shown up.
Posted by ibleedprplngld
Lafayette, LA
Member since Jan 2012
4746 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 9:50 am to
ND still has the fantasy that it's the 1980s and they're the face of college football when nothing could be further from the truth. They're not special. Join a fricking conference, play a challenging schedule, and stop bitching when you get left out. This superiority complex they have is nauseating.
Posted by Hback
Member since Aug 2017
12810 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 9:54 am to
Posted by Slums_Alum
It’s cold
Member since Dec 2025
162 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 9:56 am to
quote:

Ironically or maybe not, that was the last time FSU was relevant.


The problem with FSU was they peaked in week one. After that, the “tough” ACC schedule kicked their arse
Posted by EV
Member since Aug 2024
414 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 9:58 am to
quote:

In 2023 Number 1 ranked UGA 12-0 lost to Bama in the SECCG by 3 points....three freaking points. They fell from #1 to #6 and were left out of the Playoffs. They didn't opt out, their players didn't opt out. They went on to play FSU in the Orange Bowl in Miami. UGA beat FSU by 60 points. A lot
of FSU players did opt out as they felt entitled to be in the playoffs just like ND. Ironically or maybe not, that was the last time FSU was relevant. Team mentality matters. ND's choice to opt out is an entitlement mentality that breeds more losing when it matters most. May ND go the same way of FSU.


Georgia had their opportunity to play their way in, that's the difference

FSU went undefeated, and got left out. Notre Dame reeled off 10 wins and got left out. Not sure what "entitlement" you are talking about, those teams would have preferred to play it out on the field.

Bowl games are dying....its all about the playoff now. Not sure what you don't understand about this. Just look at the teams that chose not to do a bowl this year. The years of bowl games being something special are gone.
Posted by FearlessFreep
Baja Alabama
Member since Nov 2009
19526 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 9:58 am to

This post was edited on 12/9/25 at 10:00 am
Posted by HunterDawg
Member since Oct 2024
619 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:02 am to
Notre Dame's sense of entitlement is finally catching up with them. They are no longer the Catholic darling they once were. CFB has moved on and, if ND doesn't join a football conference, they'll continue to get left behind. Glad to see it.
Posted by EV
Member since Aug 2024
414 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:02 am to
quote:

The problem with FSU was they peaked in week one. After that, the “tough” ACC schedule kicked their arse


The real problem with FSU is that our new DC Tony White sucks arse. Teams with running games were able to power through our defense. After about 5 losses, the team quit giving a shite, which is a Norvell problem.

Alabama doesn't have a strong running attack, so it wasn't apparent in week 1. Alabama's weakness is that if you put them in a hole, and blitz the hell out of Ty Simpson, they fold. We were able to do that, OU was able to do that, and Georgia did it. Any team that can do that in the playoff will knock Bama out
Posted by BamaGradinTn
Murfreesboro
Member since Dec 2008
28600 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:04 am to
Put it in even greater perspective.

As I've already mentioned in another thread, in 1966 Notre Dame was ranked #1 even though they had a tie against Michigan State. They could have chosen to play #3 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. But nooooooo, they sat at home on their couches with their #1 ranking and won the national championship. Alabama destroyed #6 Nebraska.

So frick Notre Dame.

And all these people who thinks it's a big fricking deal that Notre Dame isn't going to a bowl are illiterate when it comes to college football history.
This post was edited on 12/9/25 at 10:05 am
Posted by SemperFiDawg
Member since Sep 2014
4138 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:04 am to
quote:

those teams would have preferred to play it out on the field.


Apparently not. FSU's players opted out and in NDs case the entire team opted out. When asked about opting out after the FSU game a UGA player said something to the effect of "I love my teammates. Why would I give up the chance to play one last game with them." That my friend is loyalty.
Posted by EV
Member since Aug 2024
414 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:04 am to
quote:

Notre Dame's sense of entitlement is finally catching up with them. They are no longer the Catholic darling they once were. CFB has moved on and, if ND doesn't join a football conference, they'll continue to get left behind. Glad to see it.


While all this is true, they also had a pretty good team this year.

If the ACC doesn't fumble with their championship tiebreakers, does Miami get into the ACC Championship? That alone would have sent ND to the playoff
Posted by Nasty_Canasta
Your Mom’s house
Member since Dec 2024
4455 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:07 am to
quote:

The real problem with FSU is that our new DC Tony White sucks arse. Teams with running games were able to power through our defense. After about 5 losses, the team quit giving a shite, which is a Norvell problem.


Norvell has to be on a short leash. His coordinator hires are just completely inept
Posted by EV
Member since Aug 2024
414 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:07 am to
quote:

Apparently not. FSU's players opted out and in NDs case the entire team opted out. When asked about opting out after the FSU game a UGA player said something to the effect of "I love my teammates. Why would I give up the chance to play one last game with them." That my friend is loya


That's a great heartwarming story, but doesn't reflect the reality of 2025, with NIL, playoffs, etc.

Most schools don't give a shite about bowls now. Welcome to reality
Posted by Diamondawg
Mississippi
Member since Oct 2006
37067 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:11 am to
There needs to be some severe penalties for teams that opt out of bowls. It waters the bowls down in more when good teams choose not to participate in bowl. This playoffs or FU isn't going to fly. I don't know what the penalty should be. Money won't do it as everyone is flashing money around like it monopoly.
Posted by EV
Member since Aug 2024
414 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:12 am to
quote:

Norvell has to be on a short leash. His coordinator hires are just completely inept


Gus Malzahn had the FSU offense at #1 in Total offense for most of the year...(they are #9 currently). not too shabby IMO

Also, Norvell was sort of forced to make moves after the 2-10 season

Just adding some context here...but ya, he is on a short leash, and will probably be fired next season

Posted by Pettifogger
I don't really care, Margaret
Member since Feb 2012
85910 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:12 am to
The opt out was eye roll inducing

But that paired with the AD making mafia threats to the ACC for not supporting ND over an actual ACC team...

Pathetic
Posted by EV
Member since Aug 2024
414 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:14 am to
quote:

This playoffs or FU isn't going to fly.


It's already flying

My guess is the playoff expands to 16, and possibly eventually to 24. It would make alot more $$$ than Pop Tarts bowls
Posted by tigerspin
Member since Dec 2008
1888 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:14 am to
This whole ordeal really should be a permanent black eye for the ND program going forward. It’s all based in selfish greed. ND is only interested in staying independent to keep it’s lucrative NBC deal and favorable schedule making while demanding everyone else just give them what they want.
Posted by Slums_Alum
It’s cold
Member since Dec 2025
162 posts
Posted on 12/9/25 at 10:15 am to
quote:

Most schools don't give a shite about bowls now. Welcome to reality


This is truth. I don’t watch any games outside the playoffs. Why? It’s like watching regular season NFL game between the Browns and Titans. A waste of time
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