Notre Dame Bookstore Pulls Shocking Cancellation of CFP Insider’s Book Event After Playoff Snub

You’d think the College Football Playoff snub of Notre Dame would just have the Irish licking their wounds quietly, right? Nope. It’s been a whirlwind that’s already stirred up some serious ripples—including the surprising cancellation of a book signing at the Notre Dame bookstore. The event, featuring CFP committee member Ivan Maisel and his new tome on legendary coach Frank Leahy, “American Coach,” was abruptly called off, stirring mixed feelings among fans and insiders alike. This wasn’t just about football rankings; it’s a reminder of how deep passions run when tradition and judgment collide. The fallout has been as intense off the field as it was on it—and the drama’s far from over. LEARN MORE

Notre Dame’s omission from the College Football Playoff has even led to the cancellation of a book event at the school’s bookstore.

According to Matt Fortuna, the Notre Dame bookstore canceled a Friday event with CFP committee member Ivan Maisel for his book about longtime Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy titled “American Coach.”

NEW: Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore has canceled a scheduled Friday signing of Ivan Maisel’s book on Frank Leahy.

Ivan is a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee.

“I’m disappointed,” Ivan tells me. “I look forward to hearing people out and talking about my… pic.twitter.com/ksVUtnN2QP

— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 10, 2025

You know by now that Notre Dame was moved out of the College Football Playoff’s final rankings on Sunday in favor of Miami. Neither the Fighting Irish or Hurricanes played on conference championship weekend, but CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek said that BYU’s loss in the Big 12 title game put Notre Dame and Miami next to each other in the rankings. Once the two teams were placed together in the rankings, then the committee discussed Miami’s head-to-head win over Notre Dame in Week 1.

Notre Dame had been ahead of Miami in each of the committee’s previous rankings and had been ranked in the top 10 until it was dropped to No. 11 on Sunday. Miami, meanwhile, worked its way up from No. 18 in the first rankings in that same span.

Maisel’s book came out in September and was well in the works before he was announced as a committee member this spring. A longtime college football writer, Maisel’s professional writing career spanned four decades and he’s worked for ESPN and On3 among other outlets.

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He was also partially prohibited from talking about Notre Dame because of the book. The committee has a lengthy list of recusals since many of its members are or were employed by schools that could be up for discussion. Committee members currently or formerly employed at a school had a full recusal; Yurachek was recused from any potential discussions surrounding Appalachian State and his current employer, Arkansas.

Maisel’s partial recusal allowed him to “remain present and participate in discussions related to” Notre Dame but he was not allowed “to participate in votes involving the team in question.”

The Irish have declined to participate in a bowl game after they were dropped out of the playoff field in favor of the Hurricanes. Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua has said that that Bevecqua’s behavior has been “egregious.”