Notre Dame made its first appearance in the College Football Playoff on Saturday in the Cotton Bowl, but couldn't hang with Clemson, falling 30–3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Fighting Irish's effort was reminiscent of their 42–14 loss to Alabama in 2013, another listless performance on a big stage.
Saturday's defeat raised eyebrows regarding Notre Dame's playoff qualifications, drawing a slate of criticism on Twitter. Players from Georgia and Ohio State—No. 5 and No. 6 in the CFP rankings, respectively—chimed in, adding a stream of reaction from the two teams who felt snubbed from the postseason tournament.