In a rare (theoretically) easy ND schedule in years THIS YEAR: Texas A&M, Florida State, USC, and Louisville. the schedule is still twice as good at Michigan tip toed through LAST YEAR by their own intentional design (PSU - who proved to be far weaker than Louisville, and OSU).
UM fans always state "We can't control our conference schedule"...but they certainly did control their nonconference schedule, didn't they? Well, ND can't control it's ACC schedule either.
Our schedule is well above average in most years. Instead of scheduling all difficult games, ND has begun scheduling several breather games as well which is only fair since all other teams are doing that with their nonconference schedules. That is only fair, and ND's schedule is still more difficult that of most other teams because their conferences are full of cupcakes (B10, B12, ACC).
You cannot make changes to a plan based on one exception year - where (again theoretically at this point) there appears to be a favorable schedule for ND.
PS - UM and Harbaugh didn't invent the scheduling strategy. Barry Switzer used to say that championships are scheduled. He was mostly correct.
Also. Michigan cheated like crazy as well. ND will not sell its soul like that.