What must come as a surprise to absolutely no one, Notre Dame football has once again shown up in a list of most hated teams.
The Irish have long been one of the sport’s most polarizing programs, arguably drawing criticism largely because of it’s relevance since the inception of the sport. National reach, a massive fan base, and wall-to-wall visibility because of the NBC TV deal has created a perception among rival fanbases that the Irish receive attention and benefit of the doubt that they do not deserve.
The program’s independent status tends to be the lightning rod that follows Notre Dame around in every conversation. While most of the sport seems to be consolidating into super-conferences, Notre Dame remains a football independent with its own media and scheduling autonomy, which enrages others despite the reality that it comes from a place of envy.
While the hatred for the program has always been consistent, there has been a spike recently due to decisions the Irish have made. After Notre Dame was left out of the 2025 College Football Playoff, they chose to not play a postseason game by withdrawing from the bowl selection process entirely. The decision drew the ire of many, as the perception was a blue-blood program opting out was disrespectful towards the bowl system and came off as entitled.
National voices noted even those who supported Notre Dame’s case that they belonged in the CFP, ultimately felt that the way the program handled the situation seemed as if they were whining and taking their ball home. For the detractors, it became the latest point against the Irish, that they continue to want the perks of independence and blue-blood status without accepting the same postseason grind as everyone else.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame continues to be a brand everyone loves to hate
Reporting by Sunny Verma, Fighting Irish Wire / Fighting Irish Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
