Not at all trying to be controversial here but I have a question:
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.
Replies to: Not at all trying to be controversial here but I have a question:
A lot of emoting and non sequiturs.
Portal success? Not only do we not know how it will turn out in the end, we don't know why it has not been successful so far, nor do we know if the explanation has anything to do with being in a conference rather than, say, lack of preparation while the head coach flirted with the NFL.
I remind you conference team Alabama was left out last year and conference team FSU the year before. The conference couldn't save them. Political exclusion was enabled/required by ND losing its 2 games to its strongest opponents and the absurdity of the ACC's CCG tiebreaker, which stole an at large bid.
You suggest that a guaranteed bid to a conference champion would allow the players to participate in (the mythology of) "deciding it on the field." But the SEC, for one, wants to get rid of automatic bids. Would joining a conference come with a guarantee that would never happen? And when ND is only 1 voice in a conference, rather than representing itself in negotiations regarding the playoffs, what say would it have with respect to that.
Can't wait to get a piece of that private equity money 🤮
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IMHO the rationale for not joining a conference would be akin to black athletes going only to HBCUs
because of the history of discrimination. ND hasn't joined a conference because anti-Catholic bigots at Michigan 100 years ago didn't want us in. Discrimination! Be independent! And yet black athletes now star at all the schools that for decades didn't let them in. Amid growing evidence that independence is a liability, it certainly gives rival recruiters a point to use against us. And all the players can see it. Our great coaches starting with Rockne were great because they found ways to innovate. The greatness to which our program aspires requires a willingness to innovate and adapt. The "guarantee" of getting in a future playoff if ranked in the top 12 is a fig leaf; we just witnessed how the CFP committee can manipulate us into the position they want as the conferences team up against us. We belong in the B1G.
Yeah, the committee will just say oops #13 again. Better luck next year.
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ND played for the Natty last year and had maybe a better team this year.
And possibly have an even better team next year. Letting 4 days of not spending 30% of your NIL budget on 3 or 4 players is not the doom and gloom y’all are making it out to be.
Honestly, uphill battle, but I think more large brands like ND need to go independent
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Let's throw away 138 years of tradition because we lost a couple players
More knee-jerk nonsense.
Let's sacrifice our culture, our identity - the core of what makes Notre Dame what it is - so we can be just another faceless cog taking direction from corrupt headquarters. Let's aspire to become part of the very thing that is destroying college football and lose any ability to influence its direction.
Fuck that.
Money is not the issue. ND has plenty, and plenty of wealthy alum. The playoff system the legacy that Jack left us with automatic bids for teams that have no business being there.
I see the tradition as being a Catholic fairh based ethical & elite educational institution.
With the interests of the students at heart. Not necessarily setting your own football schedule. Especially when you look at next year's blah schedule. Sure football tradition is important too. But you don't lose that by joining a conference. Sign a short term contract and see how it works out.
I think our (NBC) media rating has already stated that.
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Very revealing
And yet many here thought we had the largest viewership. Far cry from it. Not surprising. Small alumni base (after all with 9-10k students we only produce 2k grads per year) and perhaps not as many subway alumni as some thought.
Re: Not at all trying to be controversial here but I have a question:
Agree 100%,I think the Irish in the Big 10 would be great .Matchups against OSU,UI,Michigan every year would be must see instead matchups against the ACC teams. Days of independents are numbered
Im with you in this landscape....time to join the Big 10
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Agree
The 2026 schedule looks pretty weak unless some teams materially improve. Even with 1 loss a top 12 ranking could be managed such that ND is in the same position next year. With all the negative noise surrounding the program, one really has to question if it’s worth it. Also, without a better schedule is ND really prepared for a deep playoff run?
I believe NBC will dictate ND's move to a conference.
ND can't even guarantee NBC 2 marquee matchups a year.
If Miami sucks next year, there won't be a single game with national interest.
Look at Indiana's 2025 Schedule. 2 games. Otherwise pathetic.
The first 3 games were a disgrace.
Link: https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/84/indiana-hoosiers
Look where they are and look where we are.So!
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Greedy powers that be have managed to destroy the wonderful game of college football!!!
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That and anti-trust laws.
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Yep
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Disagree, the last two seasons have been exciting, entertaining and full of surprises.
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So is the NFL. College football was exciting without the $$$ angle...
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College Football WAY better IMO with NIL. 12 teams + more Parity + better playing teams
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Personally, with NIL and the portal, it seems tradition is out of the window anyhow.
It certainly doesn't appear to be advantageous to be independent. I don't see what the big deal is.
Tradition is never out the window at ND. Joining a cartel is kowtowing to espn.
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Well, we're playing BYU instead of USC.
What rivalry are they maintaining through independence? Navy, B.C., Stanford, Pitt? Seems ND would be better off letting those go.
I'd far rather play OSU. UM, USC, Oregon, Indiana and sign home and home deals with Miami and Texas.
We have a Texas deal signed. Miami is in the ACC. We are finishing up a home and home Just had tOSU.
We can play those other teams in the CFP. Including usc.
You missed the part about kowtowing to the espn cartel.
Yeah, I get it. Fight the good fight and all. It just seems inevitable.
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It may be more likely that the conferences will explode.
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That'd be ok too.
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This ^^^^^. It would be so much more fun to play these teams. But I wonder how much it would cost to
leave the ACC and what would happen to the NBC deal? Those seem to be two very important sticking points.
You'd think they'd just pay the revenue to the conference.
I would think it'd be worth every penny to get out of the ACC. That conference's competition is garbage. Heck, I wonder if the new conference wouldn't pay the buyout.
Consent Management