It doesn't take a genius to look at the College Football Playoff system and see something that's deeply flawed and in need of change. But what is equally at issue is how the programs involved are changing with the worst parts of this moment. Notre Dame is leading the way on that this week.

I can understand why Notre Dame is upset. In the final round of rankings, they got left out of the 12-team College Football Playoffs. They had been ranked inside the top 10 before this week, but dropped out after championship weekend.

We could rehearse the reasons why this happened, and the merits until the cows come home. But the short version of why Notre Dame got kicked out is this: they did not have a perfect season. They lost two games to Miami and Texas A&M, both teams that made it into the playoffs and had to depend on a human committee to let them in.

That human committee, which, as a sports fan, I can't stand, made its decision. Notre Dame is out like the other teams not listed in the top 12. For many other teams with six or more wins, there is the college football bowl season besides the playoffs. Teams get invites to appear and play one more game as an endcap to the season.

The bowl season is a long tradition of the sport, and fans love it. Notre Dame is taking a different path: they're packing up their equipment and going home. In an announcement, the program said:

As a team, we've decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season.

We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we're hoping to bring the 12th national title to South Bend in 2026.

- The 2025 Notre Dame Football Team

And that's it. After getting hit with some adversity, the team is calling it a season and going home.

The message sent was loud and clear: Notre Dame is a soft university that folds under adversity. They claim they'll return next season and fight harder than ever. But who would believe that? If Notre Dame loses one game next season, the mental decision to quit is already built there.

The university earned the shot it got from Republican Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who quipped on Notre Dame's statement, "This is absolutely the right move. Getting embarrassed in a bowl game against BYU would be really hard on the program. Much smarter to avoid playing tough teams so you can keep your brand intact."

Before bowing out, Notre Dame was slated to play BYU in a bowl game. It's worth noting that BYU has a similar claim, if not a better one, than Notre Dame. They lost to Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game, which is one of the top four playoff teams. BYU has a case to be in the playoffs.

BYU is proudly playing in a bowl game. Vanderbilt and Texas from the SEC have similar cases, too. They're both playing bowl games. Notre Dame is not.

It's not just the sign of a weak program, it's the sign of someone who folds immediately under any adversity. The entire point of sports is learning to keep going, even when you fail. The best teacher, if you allow it, is failure.

Notre Dame is entitled. They believe they should be in the playoffs no matter what. We know this is a legal reality because Ross Dellenger reported that the university has a special deal with the playoff committee that if they have a specific ranking, Notre Dame should be guaranteed a spot in the playoff:

In an interesting wrinkle, as part of a memorandum of understanding signed by CFP officials last spring, Notre Dame will be assured of making the playoff if it is ranked in the top 12 starting next year, Bevacqua tells Yahoo Sports. For instance, if this year's circumstances unfold next year, the final at-large team (Miami) would have gotten automatically bumped from the field for No. 11 Notre Dame.

If the playoff is expanded to 14 teams and there are more at-large berths added to the field (from seven to nine), Notre Dame is guaranteed into the field if it is ranked No. 13 or better, according to the MOU.

Notre Dame throwing a hissy fit and marching out of the playoffs is the peak of entitlement. If Notre Dame wanted to guarantee a spot in the playoffs, it could have won more games. Don't lose to Texas A&M or Miami.

Notre Dame did. And despite that, they blame the committee, the sport, and everyone but themselves. Other teams left out, like BYU, Vanderbilt, and Texas, are taking it in stride, saying they need to do better and playing games.

It goes without saying that the committee needs fixing. But Notre Dame advocated for and helped build the committee process. This is what they demanded. And now, when it goes against them, they tell all their fans and players to pout into the offseason.

A few seasons ago, both Georgia and Florida State were knocked out of the four-team playoffs. Florida State got ripped off, everyone agreed. Both teams showed up and played a bowl game.

Notre Dame's decision shows they believe they're bigger than the sport and demand everyone move to their position. It's untenable at best and teaches all student-athletes that this is the best decision: be entitled, demand what you think you deserve, and don't show it on the field.

It's a national embarrassment. Notre Dame deserves nothing. At this rate, they deserve a playoff ban.

As for what I want: shrink the playoffs back down to four teams. The expanded playoffs are a disaster. None of these two and three-loss teams would even have been considered a few seasons ago, for good reason. It's a comical they believe they are worthy of a shot now.