The Fighting Irish lost this battle with the NCAA.
In November 2016, the NCAA ruled that Notre Dame had to vacate all of its victories (21) from the 2012 and 2013 seasons, as a result of a student athletic trainer committing academic misconduct for two former football players and providing six other former football players with impermissible extra benefits.
At the time, the school said it would appeal the ruling.
Today, university president Rev. John Jenkins was informed it had been denied.
"We are deeply disappointed by and strongly disagree with the denial of the University's appeal, announced today by the NCAA," Jenkins said in a letter to alumni.