Irish fans have questions about how Notre Dame got here and how they can avoid a replay of this brutal end to a season.

After failing to secure one of the 12 spots in the College Football Playoff, they threw a fit and announced that the Fightin’ Irish will not play in a bowl game — in this case, a matchup that would have featured No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 12 BYU.

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua said the ACC has done permanent damage to its relationship with Notre Dame.

Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua confirms a CFP agreement guaranteeing the Irish a playoff spot if they finish top-12 in 2026.

Longtime sportswriter Ivan Maisel's "American Coach" came out in September and he was not allowed to vote on anything involving Notre Dame in CFP discussions.

Notre Dame has announced it will not participate in a bowl game this season after being left out of the College Football Playoff.

The Fighting Irish failed to reach the College Football Playoff despite finishing with a 10-2 record and 10 consecutive wins to finish the regular season. They lost to Miami and Texas A&M, which both earned CFP bids this season, in the first two weeks of action.

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua is still upset with the decision to bypass the Fighting Irish from the 12-team playoff field, prompting him to push for a change to the format.

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua thinks there’s a simple solution to politicking for College Football Playoff spots: expansion

In the wake of athletic director Pete Bevacqua going scorched earth on the ACC, with the Fighting Irish being excluded from the 12-team field and Miami receiving the final at-large berth, it’s been reported that other powerhouses are stewing behind closed doors.