Brady Quinn unloads on ESPN over exploiting Notre Dame throughout the College Football Playoff selection process

Jeff Hauser

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Brady Quinn unloads on ESPN over exploiting Notre Dame throughout the College Football Playoff selection process image

Brady Quinn wasn't happy with ESPN Sunday following the College Football Playoff selection show. 

The FOX Sports analyst accused the network of using Notre Dame as a 'pawn' and then criticizing the school for opting out of postseason play. Was this was a tactic to drive debate and ratings during the network’s wall-to-wall coverage of Selection Sunday?

Quinn pointed to multiple examples, including ESPN commentators questioning Notre Dame’s independence and using the program as a talking point in at-large discussions.

He also criticized the ACC Network, which is owned by ESPN, for airing the Miami Hurricanes’ Week 1 win over Notre Dame “on repeat for 48 hours” during championship week. When the Irish later declined a bowl invitation, several ESPN voices publicly questioned the decision.

“So folks at ESPN are upset ND isn’t playing in a bowl game after weeks of folks politicking against the lack of conference affiliation … BUT now it’s a bad look they don’t want to serve ESPN’s best interest by playing in an exhibition bowl game? Got it,” Quinn wrote on X.

Notre Dame fell from No. 10 to No. 11 in the final CFP rankings despite not playing, with Miami jumping the Irish for the final at-large bid. Alabama also remained ahead at No. 9 despite a 21-point SEC Championship loss to Georgia.

For Quinn, the frustration was justified and the backlash toward Notre Dame was due to this being a high-profile school not wanting to be moved around to play a lower-tier bowl game. 

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