At what point does our football independence become less about program history and more about the players who really would love an annual opportunity to play for a natty while at Notre Dame? I've heard and read all of the pros and cons of ND having a conference affiliation. Indeed, perhaps it's time to seriously consider joining one. So far in 2026, our portal success is not going well but I believe it will warm up soon. Are the best portal players shying away from ND due to better NIL money? A chance to play for a natty? Both? Neither? My last comment is this: it was politics that prevented ND from getting into the CFP. Even with our two losses we should have been in. Let's take politics out of the equation and let the players decide it on the field. It is not reasonable to expect ND to go undefeated year after year to solidify a playoff spot. I have always believed in our continued independence in football but now I'm beginning to believe the time is here. Go ahead and throw the empties at me.
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Not at all trying to be controversial here but I have a question:
Replies to: "Not at all trying to be controversial here but I have a question:"
- Not at all trying to be controversial here but I have a question: - faircatchcorby - 8:28am 1/6/26
(31) [View All]
- A lot of emoting and non sequiturs. - lacan - 3:25pm 1/6/26
- Can't wait to get a piece of that private equity money 🤮 [NT] - humbaba - 1:32pm 1/6/26
- IMHO the rationale for not joining a conference would be akin to black athletes going only to HBCUs - jrdjr84 - 12:37pm 1/6/26
- Yeah, the committee will just say oops #13 again. Better luck next year. [NT] - DiscoRick - 12:42pm 1/6/26
- ND played for the Natty last year and had maybe a better team this year. - NDNEIL - 12:35pm 1/6/26
- Honestly, uphill battle, but I think more large brands like ND need to go independent [NT] - ClashmoreMikey - 12:24pm 1/6/26
- Let's throw away 138 years of tradition because we lost a couple players - Nigel Tufnel - 11:58am 1/6/26
- I see the tradition as being a Catholic fairh based ethical & elite educational institution. - DiscoRick - 12:40pm 1/6/26
- I think our (NBC) media rating has already stated that. [NT]
- whatsamataU - 11:43am 1/6/26
- Very revealing - WoodstockIrish - 12:07pm 1/6/26
- Re: Not at all trying to be controversial here but I have a question: - Altgeld St - 11:35am 1/6/26
- Im with you in this landscape....time to join the Big 10 [NT] - 81Brown - 10:31am 1/6/26
- Agree - FENWAY - 10:21am 1/6/26
- I believe NBC will dictate ND's move to a conference. - NDblues - 10:13am 1/6/26
- Look at Indiana's 2025 Schedule. 2 games. Otherwise pathetic. [LINK]
- Hensou - 11:27am 1/6/26
- Look where they are and look where we are.So! [NT] - whatsamataU - 11:44am 1/6/26
- Look at Indiana's 2025 Schedule. 2 games. Otherwise pathetic. [LINK]
- Hensou - 11:27am 1/6/26
- Greedy powers that be have managed to destroy the wonderful game of college football!!! [NT]
- irishslovak - 9:17am 1/6/26
- That and anti-trust laws. [NT]
- DiscoRick - 9:27am 1/6/26
- Yep [NT] - irishslovak - 10:16am 1/6/26
- Disagree, the last two seasons have been exciting, entertaining and full of surprises. [NT]
- NDQuebec - 9:22am 1/6/26
- So is the NFL. College football was exciting without the $$$ angle... [NT]
- irishslovak - 10:18am 1/6/26
- College Football WAY better IMO with NIL. 12 teams + more Parity + better playing teams [NT] - KWIRISH - 2:39pm 1/6/26
- So is the NFL. College football was exciting without the $$$ angle... [NT]
- irishslovak - 10:18am 1/6/26
- That and anti-trust laws. [NT]
- DiscoRick - 9:27am 1/6/26
- Personally, with NIL and the portal, it seems tradition is out of the window anyhow. - DiscoRick - 8:51am 1/6/26
- Tradition is never out the window at ND. Joining a cartel is kowtowing to espn. [NT]
- Hensou - 9:00am 1/6/26
- Well, we're playing BYU instead of USC. - DiscoRick - 9:18am 1/6/26
- We have a Texas deal signed. Miami is in the ACC. We are finishing up a home and home Just had tOSU. - Hensou - 9:48am 1/6/26
- Yeah, I get it. Fight the good fight and all. It just seems inevitable. [NT]
- DiscoRick - 12:36pm 1/6/26
- It may be more likely that the conferences will explode. [NT]
- Hensou - 1:22pm 1/6/26
- That'd be ok too. [NT] - DiscoRick - 4:54pm 1/6/26
- It may be more likely that the conferences will explode. [NT]
- Hensou - 1:22pm 1/6/26
- Yeah, I get it. Fight the good fight and all. It just seems inevitable. [NT]
- DiscoRick - 12:36pm 1/6/26
- This ^^^^^. It would be so much more fun to play these teams. But I wonder how much it would cost to - NDQuebec - 9:27am 1/6/26
- You'd think they'd just pay the revenue to the conference. - DiscoRick - 9:33am 1/6/26
- We have a Texas deal signed. Miami is in the ACC. We are finishing up a home and home Just had tOSU. - Hensou - 9:48am 1/6/26
- Well, we're playing BYU instead of USC. - DiscoRick - 9:18am 1/6/26
- Tradition is never out the window at ND. Joining a cartel is kowtowing to espn. [NT]
- Hensou - 9:00am 1/6/26
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