Jordan Rodgers calls for Notre Dame to join a conference after CFP snub

Jordan Rodgers didn’t hold back Monday morning on ESPN’s Get Up. The SEC Network analyst offered a blunt solution for Notre Dame after the Fighting Irish were left out of the College Football Playoff. 

With the final rankings drawing national scrutiny and Notre Dame sitting as the first team out, Rodgers argued that the Irish could have avoided this entire situation with one structural significant change.

“Who won the game on the actual field? Miami did,” Rodgers stated, pointing to the Hurricanes’ Week 1 victory over Notre Dame, a matchup that ultimately became the deciding factor once the committee lined the two teams up side-by-side.

“But to the point about Alabama and Notre Dame, here’s a good fix for you, Notre Dame — get in a conference. You could’ve lost a conference championship as a 10-2 team with how much the committee loved you, and you’d be in.”

Rodgers’ comments came as frustration spilled out of South Bend following the CFP committee’s decision. Entering Championship Weekend, Notre Dame sat at No. 10, two spots ahead of Miami despite the head-to-head loss. 

When BYU fell in the Big 12 title game, the Cougars dropped behind Miami, clearing the path for a direct comparison. That’s when the Hurricanes jumped the Irish, while Alabama stayed locked at No. 9 despite losing the SEC Championship. Notre Dame’s Playoff hopes vanished.

In response, athletic director Pete Bevacqua blasted the process, calling the rankings “an absolute joke” and saying the program felt “punched in the stomach.” He added that the committee led coaches and players to believe they would have an opportunity to compete for a national championship, only to “pull the rug out” despite the Irish not playing this past weekend.

For Rodgers, the chaos and heartbreak are symptoms of Notre Dame’s independence. Conference champions receive automatic bids, and even teams that lose title games benefit, it seems. Notre Dame has none of that. Instead, they were left vulnerable, and ultimately left out.

In the aftermath, the Irish declined a bowl invitation, with On3’s Brett McMurphy reporting they were slated for the Pop-Tarts Bowl against BYU. The program released a statement saying it is turning the page toward 2026: “We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we’re hoping to bring the 12th national title to South Bend in 2026.”

The debate over Notre Dame’s future, and whether independence still serves the program, is only heating up due to this matter. As Rodgers made clear, this year’s heartbreak may not be the last unless something changes, and only time will tell if this leads to that. 

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.