The Optimal Notre Dame Scheduling Model

[stlnd01]

That's M.A.D. for the B1G and SEC. Neither wants us to join the others conference and a scheduling agreement that forces us out would cause that. Neither side wants to be the loser in that decision so they will both keep the status quo.

Of course to us the entire galaxy of college football revolves around the sun that is Notre Dame, but I suspect the two mega-conferences that increasingly dominate the sport may have priorities other than preventing us from joining the other one.

And, yeah, a nine-game schedule plus a guaranteed SEC/B1G game leaves all those schools very little room in a 12-game schedule for the likes of us. If that comes to pass we should probably just join the Big 10 and be done with it.

 

[Irish#1]

These days he can. Just go. No sense in reserving a trip the west coast and trying it to a football game. lol. Just get in the plane and go.

Remember that part of the reason they do this with Stanford (and USC) is to give the ND alum and fans the opportunity to see them in person.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

I'd like to keep playing USC if possible but not married to it. We can go ahead and stop keeping Stanford relevant though. Most boring game ever.

 

[Dale]

ND has a scheduling agreement with at least one SEC team through 2032

Nobody is pushing ND out of things.

They’re fine

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

ND draws far too many eyeballs to tvs to ever be blackballed

 

[stlnd01]

ND draws far too many eyeballs to tvs to ever be blackballed

Yes. But also the head coach of our oldest biggest rival has been openly talking about dropping us b/c their Big Ten schedule/travel is too much for them to manage.
It's not a matter of being "blackballed" but if B1G/SEC teams have 10 games spoken for, how many are going to want to use one of their other two playing us instead of a G5 tuneup or an in-state rival from the ACC/Big12. We'll still have options, but not as many.

As for eyeballs, according to this, only two of our regular season games this year made the Top 100 most watched games of the season - A&M and Northern Illinois. (USC might've too but for some reason some CBS games weren't counted). Yes it was a kinda soft schedule this year but I wouldn't assume eyeballs.

https://footballscoop.com/news/the-100-most-watched-games-of-the-2024-college-football-season

 

[notredomer23]

 

[Katzenboyer]

Love it. Not only is it good for both teams, but it's good protection in case someone like USC decides they don't want to face the Irish anymore.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Well damn

 

[NDPhilly]

Clemson is also a great choice bc they are likely to significantly come back down to earth especially post-Dabo. Probably 15+ teams with better resources than them at the moment.

 

[Dale]

Deal runs through the timeline of the ACC crumbling

 

[dublinirish]

 

[dublinirish]

Totally would not be against creating a rivalry trophy for this game if somehow they could make it not cringe like most recently created ones are

 

[greyhammer90]

If this deal runs around the ACC/ND deal, would this mean that we have to play the full slate of ACC games and then Clemson for the years that we aren't playing them as our "conference games"?

 

[Irish du Nord]

Clemson is also a great choice bc they are likely to significantly come back down to earth especially post-Dabo. Probably 15+ teams with better resources than them at the moment.

At the same time, their place is pretty tough to play (not to mention tough to get to as an away fan). I don’t know who I’d rather schedule though

 

[zelezo vlk]

I guess this means no playoff games vs Clemson. Sure would have been nice to have Dabo try his ref shtick in late December up in South Bend

 

[arrowryan]

The 2028 home slate is ELITE

 

[Dale]

If this deal runs around the ACC/ND deal, would this mean that we have to play the full slate of ACC games and then Clemson for the years that we aren't playing them as our "conference games"?

They will count towards the 5 ACC games each year

 

[Dale]

USC
Navy
ACC - Clemson
ACC - Stanford (?)
ACC
ACC
ACC
X - lot of future agreements with SEC teams
X
X
X
X

 

[IrishSpartan]

2029 is going to be nuts

 

[KMac151993]

USC
Navy
ACC - Clemson
ACC - Stanford
ACC
ACC
ACC
SEC Game
Shamrock Series Game (G5)
Buy Game (G5)
Buy Game (G5)
Michigan/Michigan State/Purdue

 

[greyhammer90]

2009 is going to be nuts

Yeah I have a bad feeling about our defense, but surely with Clausen throwing to Tate and Floyd we'll win 10 games right?

 

[KMac151993]

2009 is going to be nuts

I assure you...it was.

 

[Dale]

2009 is going to be nuts

Me after winning the Hawaii Bowl:

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

At the same time, their place is pretty tough to play (not to mention tough to get to as an away fan). I don’t know who I’d rather schedule though

Instead of a trying to get a hotel in Greenville get an Airbnb or vrbo for the weekend in one of the small towns nearby. Easy drive to and from and much less stress.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Better than Catholics and convicts.

 

[IrishSpartan]

Yeah I have a bad feeling about our defense, but surely with Clausen throwing to Tate and Floyd we'll win 10 games right?

got me

 

[BoredIrish]

2029 is going to be nuts

Now, Notre Dame has put itself in position to potentially play Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, USC and Texas all in the 2029 season.

I take the Clemson series as an indication that the USC series is coming to an end. I dont think it makes sense to have annual games against 4 teams (USC, Stanford, Clemson and Navy). Plus I think Stanford ends up counting as one of the five ACC games.

 

[NorthDakota]

At the same time, their place is pretty tough to play (not to mention tough to get to as an away fan). I don’t know who I’d rather schedule though

I have never been to a division 1 football game in a more podunk town... and that is including Brookings, South Dakota and Ames, Iowa.

I'm content to play them because its a big name, but I legit didn't know it was possible for me to feel out of place because a major school is that podunk.

Curious how much longer Dabo wants to coach there.

 

[Dale]

The do they count as ACC games annually seems to be a point of contention: