Is there a chance Notre Dame gets invited to the upcoming College Football Playoff but declines the opportunity to play in the game?

As unbelievable as that may sound, that’s exactly the message Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly relayed to the media on Friday during his latest press conference.

The undefeated Fighting Irish are set to take on Clemson in the upcoming ACC Championship Game on Saturday for the right to advance to the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame has already defeated Clemson once this season, but that game came at home and the Tigers were missing several key players from their lineup (including Trevor Lawrence) in that matchup.

During his Friday appearance speaking to the media, Kelly called out the possibility that no parents would be allowed to attend any potential Playoff games.

If you missed it, the Rose Bowl has announced it will not allow fans this year due to COVID restrictions. The Fiesta Bowl has made the same decision for this year.

“Maybe they need to spend a little less time on who the top four teams are and figure out how to get parents into these games,” Kelly said of the College Football Playoff committee on Friday. “It’s an absolute shame, and a sham, if parents can’t watch their kids play.”

Kelly went on to say that if Notre Dame wins on Saturday and locks up a Playoff spot, the Irish may not accept it.

“I’m not sure we will play in the playoffs if parents can’t be there, to be honest with you,” Kelly continued. “Why would we play if we you can’t have families at the game? A bowl game, yeah, we would opt-out. If you can’t have families at the bowl game.”

The coach then added this message comes from the players, not him.

“The players drive this, I don’t drive it. I’m echoing their concerns,” Kelly added. “I’m not the guy out there making this up because it’s not about my family, you know what I mean? It’s about their families.

“I’m a voice for our team. They are concerned. They are focused on the ACC Championship. That’s where there focus is, they won’t be speaking on these things, but if we are selected to be a part of (the Playoff), this will be No. 1 on their radar.”