In the 60/70s it was 9, then grew to 10, 11, 12 with a bowl game. Now it’s 12 with 3 possible playoff games down the pipe.
You have got to see the changing landscape/dynamics and adjust. There used to be a tradition of only 59,075 at every home game, ND adjusted & for the better.
Every home game used to start at 1:30 local time. No lights in the stadium (hello Musco, then lights)
There used to be Notre Dame football replay on Sunday mornings. That was the only way you could see the game without attending.
These were all “traditions” that were changed.