Notre Dame’s Bowl Boycott Is a Direct Shot at ESPN

There will be plenty of theories about why 10–2 Notre Dame is taking its ball and going home rather than playing a bowl game. But the story could be more straightforward, college football and media industry sources tell Front Office Sports. The Fighting Irish are giving the old middle-fingered salute to the College Football Playoff selection committee, the ACC, and ESPN.

When the CFP snubbed Notre Dame in favor of Miami and Alabama, it probably thought the Irish would be peeved—but still willing to attach their gold-plated brand to some second-rate bowl game. It didn’t expect athletic director Pete Bevacqua to boycott bowl season. But maybe it should have.

“Notre Dame’s pride is hurt,” says one source. “This is the Irish saying ‘fuck you’ to the committee, the ACC, and ESPN.”  

You could argue Notre Dame is acting like a petulant child throwing a tantrum. Yes, the Irish can be insufferable with their gold helmets, Touchdown Jesus, and Knute Rockne. Yes, they could have avoided this year’s CFP snub by joining a conference rather than holding themselves aloof, then throwing a pity party for themselves. “It is Notre Dame’s fault,” said Paul Finebaum on ESPN’s Get Up on Monday. “They think they’re better than everybody.”

But if you follow the money, Notre Dame and Bevacqua’s decision makes sense. The Irish have their own TV deal worth an estimated $50 million a year with NBC Sports. And Bevacqua is a former chairman of NBC Sports, with no love lost for ESPN. 

Meanwhile, ESPN began a 10-year, $3 billion deal with the SEC Conference last year. Did we mention a record five SEC teams were selected for this year’s CFP? (Including Alabama despite being boat-raced by Georgia in the SEC championship game.) Or that ESPN’s sister Disney network, ABC, will show the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 27? That’s probably the bowl game Notre Dame would have played if they agreed to participate. In January, ESPN extended its $3.7 billion deal with the ACC through 2036.

In short, there’s no reason for Notre Dame to drive viewers and advertisers to an ESPN bowl game. Especially, since there’s growing belief inside and outside of South Bend, that some ESPN personalities campaigned for the network’s SEC and ACC partner schools at the expense of Notre Dame. 

As former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn wrote on X/Twitter: “So folks at @espn are upset ND isn’t playing in a bowl game after weeks of folks politicking against the lack of conference affiliation, using them as a pawn for their CFB playoff selection show, having the ACC network play the UM/ND game on repeat for 48 hours during Conf Champ week. BUT now it’s a bad look they don’t want to serve ESPN’s best interest by playing in an exhibition bowl game? Got it.”

Former Notre Dame wide receiver Robby Toma is also happy to see his old school stick it to ESPN by opting out: “ESPN was clearly hoping to profit big off a BYU vs. Notre Dame ‘first two out’ matchup. Hard pass,” he tweeted. “If you think ND owes ESPN a damn thing after they spent the entire weekend campaigning against them, you’re out of your mind and probably not very business savvy.”

Still, there’s no question Notre Dame’s absence from the CFP and bowl season is bad news given their outsized presence in college football, says former ESPN executive John Kosner. Last season’s 14–2 Irish team made it all the way to the national championship before falling to Ohio State. That was a thrilling run for the school’s millions of fans nationwide. How many viewers and advertisers will be MIA this year without Notre Dame?

“They are one of the biggest TV attractions in the sport,” Kosner notes. “It’s obviously not a good development for the TV appeal of the 2025 CFP. Still the CFP selection process is subjective and has been from the event’s inception. These things happen. I have no evidence that Notre Dame’s reaction is part of a campaign on the part of the school and its TV partner NBC. I’d say they have a beef on the merits.”

Notre Dame’s beef isn’t over. In fact, it’s just beginning. During an appearance with Dan Patrick on Monday, Bevacqua said the ACC caused “permanent damage” to their Notre Dame relationship with their antics during the CFP debate. Among other campaigning from the ACC and Miami, ESPN’s ACC Network repeatedly replayed Miami’s opening week 27–24 win over Notre Dame in the lead-up to Selection Sunday. 

“We were mystified by the actions of the conference to attack, really, their biggest business partner in football. And a member of their conference in 24 other sports,” Bevacqua said. “I would tell you, Dan. I wouldn’t be honest with you if I didn’t say they have certainly done permanent damage to the relationship between the conference and Notre Dame.” 

As part of Notre Dame’s hybrid relationship with the ACC, the football program remains independent, while the other athletic teams are full members. Notre Dame’s football team plays five ACC schools per season.

In a statement late on Monday, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips called Notre Dame “an incredibly valued member of the ACC” but added that “and I stand behind our conference efforts” to lobby for Miami’s inclusion in the Playoff. He denied ever negatively campaigning against Notre Dame.

So will the Fighting Irish reevaluate their business partnership with ACC? Bevacqua wouldn’t say, except to tell Patrick the relationship is “strained.” 

But if the thriving independent ever does join a conference, my money’s now on the Big Ten, not the ACC. And what do you know? Fox Sports, ESPN’s biggest rival in college football, is the primary rights holder for the Big Ten. Stay tuned.