Notre Dame’s season should have ended with momentum and a clear path into the College Football Playoff. Instead, it closed with frustration. The Irish finished 10-2, rattled off ten straight wins, and looked like one of the most complete teams in the country.
Still, they were left out of the CFP, falling behind Miami despite owning a similar record. The committee leaned heavily on head-to-head results, and Notre Dame’s early-season losses proved too much to overcome.
For a program that surged late and played its way back into national relevance, the snub hit hard. The disappointment has only grown in the days since. Notre Dame now faces a major staff change, as linebackers coach Max Bullough is leaving to join Michigan State.
The move was reported by Matt Fortuna and marks a true homecoming for Bullough, who was an All-Big Ten standout and a two-time captain during his playing career in East Lansing. He became a respected presence on Marcus Freeman’s staff.
SOURCE: Michigan State is hiring Notre Dame linebackers coach Max Bullough to the same position.
It’s a homecoming for Bullough, who was an All-Big Ten LB and two-time captain for the Spartans.@JimComparoni first. pic.twitter.com/5DgCH1s6sN
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 11, 2025
Losing him at this moment adds another setback at a time when the program is already absorbing a difficult end to an otherwise strong season. What stings most for Notre Dame is how close they came to a playoff berth.
The Irish had built real momentum, stabilizing on both sides of the ball and playing their way into national relevance again. But the reality of independence worked against them. Without the backing of a conference and without the leverage of a league title, their case relied entirely on the committee’s perception.
ACC Commissioner Issued a Statement on Notre Dame
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips responded to the public outcry by acknowledging Notre Dame’s status as an important and respected member of the conference in the sport.
He explained that the ACC supported all of its football-playing members throughout the selection process, pushing for Miami’s inclusion while still recognizing the deep frustration felt by the program.
STATEMENT from ACC commissioner Jim Phillips on Notre Dame: pic.twitter.com/nNqmDDbphW
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 8, 2025
His remarks underscored the difficult balance the conference faces. Notre Dame stands apart in football, yet its postseason fate is inevitably shaped by the strength and positioning of the ACC’s full-time members.
The league backed its teams, understood Notre Dame’s disappointment, and never questioned the Irish as a worthy playoff contender. Notre Dame now enters the offseason with a great record, a staff vacancy, and lingering frustration over a missed opportunity.
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