The Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers 22-16 in overtime, averaging 21.3 million viewers on Fox. In contrast, Oregon’s 51-34 win over James Madison attracted 4.4 million viewers. Last year’s Ohio State -Tennessee game on ABC/ESPN averaged 14.3 million viewers, and it did not compete with any NFL games.

Notre Dame is losing a key game from its schedule that would help boost its stock for the College Football Playoff.

Recently the Notre Dame Fighting Irish weren’t selected to participate in the college football playoffs. Its reaction: To pull out of a bowl game. Sour grapes?

The tone was set two days prior to the Fighting Irish's surprising loss, which had undone weeks of building up good will. The coach thanked fans for booing him.

Joel Klatt called out Notre Dame and head football coach Marcus Freeman over their decision to skip a college bowl game.

Johnson’s message came on the same day reports indicated USC and Notre Dame would not renew their rivalry for at least the next several years. The Trojans were said to have had concerns about what a late-season defeat might do to their hypothetical chances of making future College Football Playoff fields.

During ESPN’s First Take segment “What Are You Mad About,” Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo went on an animated rant that mixed trolling, personal stories, and pointed criticism of college football fan behavior especially targeting Oklahoma and Notre Dame fans.

A mainstay of the offensive line for Notre Dame football the last two seasons is officially moving on. Aamil Wagner, who started all 28 games for the Fighting Irish the last two years, declared for the 2026 NFL Draft Saturday, Dec. 20. He made the new public on his Instagram account.