Notre Dame makes understandable Pop-Tarts Bowl call after pathetic CFP drama

The fact that this is how the season is coming to a close for Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman is beyond disheartening. On Sunday, it was confirmed that the Fighting Irish are going to be left out of the College Football Playoff, getting snubbed in absurd fashion.

One blunder, not Miami, changed the course of Notre Dame's CFP-worthy season

Following that announcement, everyone was waiting to see which bowl game Freeman and his players would have to settle for. As it turns out, no bowl game will be on the way. Moments ago, Notre Dame announced on social media that the program has decided to decline playing in a bowl this season. Just like that, the campaign is over. Per Brett McMurphy, Notre Dame was going to be playing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, but it said thanks, but no thanks:

Notre Dame officially declines invite to play BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl

Plenty of people are racing to bash Notre Dame for this, but come on, what do you expect? Notre Dame felt like a lock to reach the College Football Playoff and they were ahead of Miami in the rankings that just came out on Tuesday. With Alabama getting crushed on Saturday, countless people continue to debate whether or not they should be out instead of ND.

The committee apparently had a tough time making this decision, but in the end, it's the Fighting Irish players who are the ones that are suffering right now. Jeremiyah Love, CJ Carr and others were ready to give it their all to go on a deep CFP run.

Instead, that opportunity feels like it was stolen from them. Miami is going to take on Texas A&M in the first round and Alabama is going to face Oklahoma on the road in Norman. Notre Dame will watch those contests from home instead of suiting up again.

It's a complete and total shame this is how the year has ended for this team. For Love in particular, he's likely off to the NFL next season. For his Notre Dame career to end in this fashion is simply heartbreaking.