The moment was electric: stunned faces, spontaneous reactions, and audible gasps filled the air as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team came to terms with the shocking news that they would not be part of the 2025 College Football Playoff. This pivotal scene was beautifully captured by Peacock in the season finale of "Here Come the Irish," which is set to debut on Monday, January 12.
Awful Announcing has provided an exclusive sneak peek into this emotional turning point that abruptly ended Notre Dame's season.
As ESPN’s college football analysts deliberated over why the Miami Hurricanes were chosen for the playoff over Notre Dame, head coach Marcus Freeman and his players could only watch in disbelief. Their shock was palpable as Freeman eventually stood up to address his team, attempting to make sense of the unexpected decision.
"It is what it is. But what can we do? I keep reminding myself there’s got to be a reason for this," Freeman expressed to his team. "We experience disappointments regularly, right? However, there's usually a clear cause-and-effect explanation for those letdowns. Typically, I can stand in front of you and say, ‘Hey, if we had done this differently…’ But, guys, I don’t have that answer for this one at the moment. It simply doesn’t make sense. I feel terrible for all of you because I’m supposed to have the answers, but right now, I don’t.
"Hold on to that pain. Keep it close. There’s a reason behind this… We’re experiencing it together at this very moment. Be incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished this year. Don’t let anyone strip away the joy from what you’ve achieved this season. Don’t allow them to take that power from you.
"From our rocky start to where we ended up, don’t let that committee rob you of your happiness, okay? You hear me? They’ve already taken the playoffs from us, but they can’t take away our joy. Life throws punches at us; whether you’re 40 years old or just 18 or 22, life is full of challenges. Bam! They hit us hard this time. But they won’t steal our joy."
Despite being ranked above Miami in most previous standings, the College Football Playoff committee made a dramatic reversal in their final rankings, leaving Notre Dame out of the playoff picture even though Miami had previously lost to them earlier in the season. This surprising exclusion sent shockwaves through the school community, prompting its athletic director to express frustration towards both the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the CFP. Critics also took the opportunity to weigh in, with some even celebrating Notre Dame's snub. Ultimately, the Fighting Irish decided to decline an invitation to a bowl game, marking a disappointing end to their season.
Peacock's "Here Come the Irish" series has been providing viewers with an intimate look at Notre Dame’s football journey, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with key figures associated with the program. The six-episode second season will wrap up on Monday.
