Latest bowl projections are flat-out disheartening for Notre Dame after poor start

Before the Notre Dame football team played Miami, 2025 was supposed to be a dream season that included the possibility of a national title. After Texas A&M, dreams turned into a nightmare. What's worse than a nightmare? Could the latest bowl projections for the Irish be a night terror?

After the 0-2 Blue and Gold saw their season hanging on by a fingernail, at least one analyst believes the end of 2025 is going to be incredibly disappointing. Not only won't the Irish be making the playoffs, but Bret McMurphy thinks they're going to a delicious, but not exactly impressive, bowl game.

McMurphy, who now works for On3, recently released his official bowl projections. He has the Notre Dame football headed to the Pop-Tarts bowl.

McMurphy at least thinks that the Irish will play an interesting opponent. However, some analysts expect Texas Tech to be pretty good this season. Some think they might be good enough to make the playoffs.

Notre Dame football projected to Pop-Tarts Bowl by On3 analyst

However, the On3 analyst believes they're headed to a bowl anyway. And that would undoubtedly make for something more interesting than what flavor of Pop-Tart the winner picks.

Even if Marcus Freeman makes the right pick on the flavor, even winning the Pop-Tarts bowl would be a massive disappointment for Notre Dame football fans. The Irish are supposed to be playoffs or bust in 2025. This kind of bowl game would absolutely be a bust. And it would be the kind of bust that would have some wondering about the direction of the program.