During this year’s college football season, ten teams declined their bowl game invitation. Some people say that because of the new, larger playoff bracket, they don’t matter anymore, for larger programs like Notre Dame, this could be the case.
“[Bowl games] outside of the playoffs don’t matter that much because everybody good opts out,” sophomore Joe Hudson said.
Players have individually sat out of bowl games since around 2016, when Jaylon Smith suffered an injury in the Fiesta Bowl, tanking his draft stock–how high or low a player is expected to get drafted. After that, it became a normal thing for star players to do. Prospects competing in a bowl game could either let the NFL scouts see what they already know about them or get injured and ruin their draft stock. Evidently, many players think it's just not worth the risk. However, that doesn’t work for fans who spend money on a ticket or TV subscription, just to see their favorite player sitting on the bench.
“Players should play for their program, and they support their team,” Hudson said.
Even though players sit out of the bowl games for personal reasons, many other players still want to play in the bowl games. Especially Seniors who are getting their last snaps of football.
“Players are not only missing out on the bowl game, but they also missed out on the playoffs,” Hudson said.
However, star players sitting out and entire programs not playing are two very different things. Notre Dame decided that since they weren't making the playoffs, there was no point in playing any extra games. This hurts ESPN because they are not getting a top team to play, so fewer people will tune in.
“ESPN was clearly hoping to profit big off a BYU vs. Notre Dame ‘first two out’ matchup,” former Notre Dame wide receiver Robby Toma said.
Before the CFP bracket selection on Dec. 7, 2025, Notre Dame was in the playoffs, ahead of Miami. But when the CFP bracket selection came out, they kicked Notre Dame out of the playoffs and put them below Miami. The committee claimed it was because of the week one matchup between the two teams, where Miami won. But that game didn’t affect the rankings before then.
“I would say that [Notre Dame declining a bowl game is] a way to punish ESPN because they're being petty,” Hudson said.
Because top teams aren’t playing other exceptional schools, fewer people are interested, and real fans for that larger team don’t get that same experience as a big-time matchup, of course, it ends up hurting the fans.
“It hurts the viewers more because it takes away quality football to watch,” Hudson said.
To combat schools from declining a bowl game invite, some conferences started fining schools for skipping out. In the Big 12 Conference, Kansas State and Iowa State both got fined $500,000 for declining. It is important to note, however, that both of these schools were declining due to the sudden departures of both head coaches at the end of the season.
"While the Conference acknowledges the difficult timing around coaching changes, the Big 12 is responsible for fulfilling its contractual obligations to its bowl partners," The Big 12 said.
However, bowls such as the Pop-Tarts and Duke's Mayo Bowl have been leaning into more of an entertaining spectacle, with things like the Pop-Tart cooking himself, and the Mayo Bath. This increased viewership on the bowl games was shown through making them more fun for the fans.
“[Those games] create more than just football, it creates more publicity for those teams, schools, and brands,” Hudson said.
