One blown call robbed Notre Dame of a Playoff spot originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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A blown call in September may have cost Notre Dame its shot at the College Football Playoff. In a 41-40 loss to Texas A&M Aggies.
The final touchdown and extra point came after what former NFL official Terry McAulay called a “patently egregious missed offensive holding foul.” McAulay broke down film showing the hold, which went unflagged, that likely gave the Aggies a critical advantage on the game-winning play.
Even McAulay acknowledged the mistake was not malicious, but rather a “mechanical breakdown” by the officiating crew. Still, the missed call changed a one-point game and ultimately added another loss to Notre Dame’s record.
Many are asking how this was missed.
Here’s why (and it’s not because of any grand conspiracy):
The still photo below shows the Umpire in the middle, who is the primary official, looking to his left. I can’t say why, but there is no reason for him to look that way.
It also… https://t.co/CbpJPjkOj9pic.twitter.com/emrGrsYDnY
— Terry McAulay (@tjmcaulay) September 14, 2025
That loss combined with another defeat left Notre Dame with a strong but insufficient resume. The playoff selection committee weighed all the factors such as strength of schedule, common opponents and head-to-head results. They came to the conclusion the Irish lacked the boost needed to beat out rivals.
While Notre Dame may feel robbed, the rules for the playoff don’t allow for overturned outcomes once officials fail to act. So one blown call turned into a missed opportunity. Yet again, so does two losses and not playing in a conference title game.
