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especially given neither were at all competitive against any of the Power 4 teams they played this year. The inclusion of 5 SEC teams is a poor reflection on the sport, and the CFP committee completely discredited itself the way everything was handled, not just yesterday but throughout the entire ranking process. As a side note, it's interesting no one else from the committee is allowed to comment on the proceedings and no reporters are allowed to listen to the debates.

We all have to admit ND goes into every year with a one-loss ceiling to feel at all safe about playoff inclusion. ND knew the importance of the first two games and frankly, blew it. The Miami game plan was head scratching, but I can put that in the acceptable column given a new QB, new DC, being on the road and playing in a tropical rain forest. The A&M game was, simply put, a debacle. ND had 2 weeks to prepare, still had a defense that looked lost and blew a double digit lead. MF and the entire defensive staff should have to answer some tough questions about the transition to Ash. I also have concerns about Denbrock and Rudolph, but those are more total year than first two games specific.

I'm not a fan of the way ND has handled its Bowl Invite. There is an optics angle that has to be recognized, and ND did not handle this well. I'm not saying they had to go, but a PR statement shortly after being snubbed with no reference to a team vote, falling short of expectations, a MF press conference, playing for championships, etc. is a bad look. I'm looking at how Clark Lea handled everything, and it's just better.

I do think ND should have gone to a bowl and beat the hell out of a quality opponent. 11-2 with a solid bowl win and probably finishing in the top 5 is a better PR line to recruits and reflection on the program than 10-2 and shutting it down. It just is. Yes, yes, everyone can say a bowl was a no win proposition for ND and an everything to gain for its opponent and ESPN, but that is the reality of ND.