The fallout from the 2025 College Football Playoff selection has taken a bitter turn as Notre Dame officially declined all bowl invitations, effectively "dodging" a highly anticipated matchup against No. 12 BYU. The move has sparked a national debate, with critics and BYU fans suggesting the Irish are more interested in protecting their brand than proving their worth on the field.

The Matchup the World Wanted

Both teams finished the season as the "First Two Out" of the 12-team playoff. With Notre Dame at No. 11 and BYU at No. 12, the logic for a bowl pairing was undeniable. It would have been the unofficial "13th vs. 14th" game to determine who truly deserved the final spot. However, rather than facing a gritty, 11-win BYU team that felt equally disrespected by the committee, Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua announced the program would skip the bowl season entirely to focus on the "changing landscape" of the transfer portal.

The "Dodge" Narrative

The optics of this decision are poor. Critics argue that Notre Dame feared the physical, high-flying Cougars. A loss to BYU in a bowl game would have retroactively justified the committee’s decision to leave the Irish out, proving that their 10-2 record—which lacked a conference championship opportunity—was inferior to the resumes of teams like Texas Tech or BYU. As noted by prominent sports commentators like Drake Toll, the Irish's exit looks less like a principled stand against the CFP and more like a tactical retreat to avoid a humiliating loss to a "Group of Five" style riser.

A Legacy of "Pouting"

By taking their ball and going home, Notre Dame has fueled the narrative that they believe they are "above" the traditional bowl system if it doesn't lead to a trophy. While BYU prepares for a high-stakes bowl game to prove they belonged, the Irish will watch from the sidelines, leaving fans wondering if they were simply afraid to put their No. 11 ranking to the ultimate test.

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