Bowl season faced a last-minute reshuffle as three eligible teams chose to sit out, prompting a potential spike in openings for 5-7 squads to fill the slate. Within hours on Sunday,Notre Dame, Iowa State, and Kansas State each announced they would decline bowl bids despite meeting the six-win requirement and remaining eligible.
With 41 bowls on the schedule and 82 teams meeting the minimum entitlement, the withdrawals by the Cyclones, Wildcats, and Fighting Irish shook the customary selection order. Iowa State and Kansas State cited coaching transitions—Matt Campbell departing to Penn State and Chris Klieman retiring—as contributing factors, while Notre Dame’s decision followed their playoff exclusion announcement.
Meanwhile, 5-7 programs Mississippi State and Rice stepped forward to accept bowls, buoyed by high Academic Progress Rate standings. The Bulldogs earned a spot in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Wake Forest in Charlotte, and Rice will face Texas State in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth.
Late Sunday, the Birmingham Bowl was reportedly still seeking an opponent to face Georgia Southern, per On3.
Notre Dame’s season-ending withdrawal marked the latest turn in a year that saw them finish 10-2, ranked No. 9 in the AP poll and No. 11 in the College Football Playoff rankings after a strong start and a close defeat in the prior championship game. Their choice leaves them out of postseason play for the first time since 2016.
As for the playoff picture, Miami earned an at-large bid after climbing to No. 10 in the final rankings, while Notre Dame’s absence solidified their postseason void.
The Big 12 confirmed fines of $500,000 for both Iowa State and Kansas State for opting out of bowl participation. The conference noted that these penalties align with contractual obligations to bowl partners, even as it acknowledged the timing challenges presented by coaching changes.
Iowa State stated that its players voted against continuing to bowl participation due to safety concerns and injuries, with no explicit mention of the coaching transition from Campbell to interim coach Jimmy Rogers. Athletic director Jamie Pollard praised the team’s leadership and said the university respected the players’ decision after a season that included an 8-4 record.
Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor said discussions with players and the Big 12 commissioner preceded the choice to decline a bowl bid. The Wildcats finished 6-6 after a home victory over Colorado, and Taylor emphasized that the decision was made to ensure the team’s representation remained true to the university’s standards. He also praised the seniors for closing the year on a high note at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
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