12/12/2025
Calls Mount for NCAA Action on Notre Dame as Marcus Freeman & Co. Pay Price for Major Advantage
Calls for NCAA intervention intensified Monday as rival coaches and administrators accused Notre Dame of exploiting a “major advantage” that effectively handed Marcus Freeman’s program a get-out-of-conference-hell-free card—then allowed the Fighting Irish to cry foul when the playoff committee finally held them accountable. The controversy exploded after Notre Dame declined its bowl invitation in protest of its No. 11 final ranking, citing an “unfair” snub despite a soft non-conference schedule and zero conference championship obligation. Anonymous Big Ten and SEC sources told ESPN the Irish have “gamed the system for decades,” scheduling cupcakes while Power conference teams are forced to play nine league games plus a title game. “Everybody pays a price except Notre Dame,” one SEC athletic director fumed. “They get the TV money, the brand boost, and when the résumé doesn’t hold up, they boycott bowls and play victim. Enough.” The loudest demand came from the Big 12, where commissioners reportedly circulated a proposal that would strip independents of automatic playoff revenue shares unless they commit to at least eight Power-conference games annually. “Marcus Freeman can’t have it both ways,” a Big 12 source said. “Take the independence perks or join a league and earn it like everyone else.”