Notre Dame Football: Could the Irish really pass on the CFP?

Could Notre Dame football really pass on the CFP?

While I totally understand the sentiment, as this is a group of kids that have been on campus since the Summer and have fought hard to earn the right to play in the playoff, not playing would be devastating to the players. All of these players and their families have made sacrifices during this pandemic, and as they reach the paramount of the sport, it is only right that they are allowed to cheer on their children.

Maybe Kelly is pushing the envelope in hopes that the committee will consider moving the Rose Bowl, as a playoff this season without a team like Notre Dame would lack some luster. Remember, the Irish are a national brand, with fans all over the world, and they have a team on both sides of the ball that could challenge any of the final four teams remaining.

When it comes to the players, they are certainly going to have some say as to whether or not the Irish accept the invitation, and there is no way in my mind that the likes of Ian Book, Javon McKinley, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are going to allow the team to sit this one out. They have worked for years to get where they are, and I am also pretty sure the parents would not let their kids miss out on this opportunity.

In the end, I believe the Irish will play in the playoffs no matter if the game is in Southern California, or if it is anywhere else, as these kinds of opportunities only come around once in a while. For Kelly, he did the right thing by showing hand against the CFP committee, but when it comes down to it, the Irish will take the field if they are awarded a spot in the Final Four.