The Optimal Notre Dame Scheduling Model

[Jimmy3Putt]

Brice has said that there is a MAC team that ND is very close to agreeing to a game for next year with. It seems that the USC game is the hope for the final game.

NIU?

I'd like a rematch.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

I’m so happy to see Stanford nowhere. That fake ass non-rivalry can go to hell and never return. I’d rather play Grand Valley State every year than that fucking team

 

[Irish du Nord]

Hell yes, Auburn!

We get to play Purdue twice a year?

 

[IrishLax]

ND is pretty much all in on the idea of playing 10 "Power Conference" teams a year but they need to pump the breaks a little on how much they appear to be front loading their schedule. Most everyone else is playing at least one softy (often 2-3) in the first month of the season.

 

[NDRock]

ND is pretty much all in on the idea of playing 10 "Power Conference" teams a year but they need to pump the breaks a little on how much they appear to be front loading their schedule. Most everyone else is playing at least one softy (often 2-3) in the first month of the season.

Agree. Though it does seem to be an advantage to go on a run the 2nd half of the season. As we all know, when you lose in college is an important factor.

 

[stlnd01]

ND is pretty much all in on the idea of playing 10 "Power Conference" teams a year but they need to pump the breaks a little on how much they appear to be front loading their schedule. Most everyone else is playing at least one softy (often 2-3) in the first month of the season.

Gonna need some flexibility from the Big Ten (in particular) on that front, though. Their insistence on having an unbroken conference schedule starting the first weekend of October forces them to frontload all non-con games. Next year is ridiculous.

 

[Notre Dame Joe]

2028 schedule due to have Texas, Auburn, Arkansas. Clemson as an ACC game or not and Miami as an ACC game. Would expect some sort or change there, especially if anything is struck for ND/USC.

So... by 2028 we'll be SEC!?

 

[NDPhilly]

With a 16 team playoff seeming likely, we probably have a 50/50 shot at making it at 9-3 even.

 

[lcaps20]

Listening to Cover 3 today, the 2026 ND/FSU game is no longer listed on their 2026 schedule?

 

[kzoondfi]

Listening to Cover 3 today, the 2026 ND/FSU game is no longer listed on their 2026 schedule?was coming here to check on the same thing. IrishIllustrated dropped an hour ago and the title is about scheduling. But I have not had a chance to listen yet.

I was coming here to check on this as well. Irish illustrated just dropped and from the title. It looks like it is going to talk about this. I have not had a chance to listen yet though.

 

[notredomer23]

Listening to Cover 3 today, the 2026 ND/FSU game is no longer listed on their 2026 schedule?

I would guess they're pushing @FSU back for a home Stanford game.

Edit: Decent guess. Per John Brice on the pod today, Stanford was added, but so was Miami at home.

No MAC opponents. And Neutral Site vs USC.

That would mean 6 true home games. 3 true away games. 3 neutral games.

 

[irishu]

Recapping recent rumblings. Do I have this right?

2026 schedule
09/06: ND vs WISC (Sunday; Green Bay, WI)
09/12: ND vs RICE
09/19: ND vs MSU
09/26: ND @ PUR
10/03: ND @ UNC
10/10: ND vs STAN
10/17: ND vs SMU
10/31: ND vs NAVY (Foxborough, MA)
11/07: ND vs MIA
11/21: ND vs BC

No date yet:
ND vs USC (Las Vegas, NV)
ND @ SYR

Likely removed from schedule:
ND @ FSU

 

[Notre Dame Joe]

Recapping recent rumblings. Do I have this right?

2026 schedule
09/06: ND vs WISC (Sunday; Green Bay, WI)
09/12: ND vs RICE
09/19: ND vs MSU
09/26: ND @ PUR
10/03: ND @ UNC
10/10: ND vs STAN
10/17: ND vs SMU
11/07: ND vs MIA
11/21: ND vs BC

No date yet:
ND vs USC (Las Vegas, NV)
ND vs NAVY (Foxborough, MA)
ND @ SYR

Likely removed from schedule:
ND @ FSU

THat is a badass schedule even without FSU, when Navy is your 2nd easiest game.

 

[zelezo vlk]

So when is Miami gonna send their sniveling note saying they wanna back out of the game?

 

[notredomer23]

Recapping recent rumblings. Do I have this right?

2026 schedule
09/06: ND vs WISC (Sunday; Green Bay, WI)
09/12: ND vs RICE
09/19: ND vs MSU
09/26: ND @ PUR
10/03: ND @ UNC
10/10: ND vs STAN
10/17: ND vs SMU
11/07: ND vs MIA
11/21: ND vs BC

No date yet:
ND vs USC (Las Vegas, NV)
ND vs NAVY (Foxborough, MA)
ND @ SYR

Likely removed from schedule:
ND @ FSU

As bad as MSU is now, I am glad to see them return to the schedule. Just feels like one of those teams that should always be on it.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

If ND could pull off an agreement with the Big10 similar to the one we have with the ACC who would take it?
Schedule breakdown:
5 ACC
5 Big10
2 Other (1 Navy + 1 Open)

Play 1 team from each of the below groups each year:

Group A - USC, Michigan, Ohio State
Group B - Michigan State, Purdue, Northwestern
Group C - Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Indiana
Group D - Maryland, Rutgers, UCLA, Nebraska
Group F - Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota

Fun to think about anyway.

 

[mhunter123]

Recapping recent rumblings. Do I have this right?

2026 schedule
09/06: ND vs WISC (Sunday; Green Bay, WI)
09/12: ND vs RICE
09/19: ND vs MSU
09/26: ND @ PUR
10/03: ND @ UNC
10/10: ND vs STAN
10/17: ND vs SMU
11/07: ND vs MIA
11/21: ND vs BC

No date yet:
ND vs USC (Las Vegas, NV)
ND vs NAVY (Foxborough, MA)
ND @ SYR

Likely removed from schedule:
ND @ FSU

The Navy game is scheduled for 10/31, no? Also, anybody know why USC would agree to play a neutral site game instead of the Coliseum?

 

[mhunter123]

THat is a badass schedule even without FSU, when Navy is your 2nd easiest game.

The guys on Rock's House are upset because it's a 'weak' schedule, especially the home games. LOL

 

[irishu]

The Navy game is scheduled for 10/31, no? Also, anybody know why USC would agree to play a neutral site game instead of the Coliseum?

Updated

 

[Notre Dame Joe]

If ND could pull off an agreement with the Big10 similar to the one we have with the ACC who would take it?
Schedule breakdown:
5 ACC
5 Big10
2 Other (1 Navy + 1 Open)

Play 1 team from each of the below groups each year:

Group A - USC, Michigan, Ohio State
Group B - Michigan State, Purdue, Northwestern
Group C - Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Indiana
Group D - Maryland, Rutgers, UCLA, Nebraska
Group F - Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota

Fun to think about anyway.

Why not the SEC, after they have seized the good half of the ACC? We would play each team once a generation.

I read that inside the conference, Texas A&M still has played UGA a total of once since joining the SEC in 2012.

The guys on Rock's House are upset because it's a 'weak' schedule, especially the home games. LOL

Well, if they want to see a team that still runs the option they can go to Foxboro MA.

 

[Huntr]

@FSU game got axed?

 

[stpeteirish]

THat is a badass schedule even without FSU, when Navy is your 2nd easiest game.

You think Purdue and Stanford are good?

 

[NDbrbkny]

@FSU game got axed?

I heard to comply with the 9 game acc rule, should have removed the fcs game

 

[NDRock]

The guys on Rock's House are upset because it's a 'weak' schedule, especially the home games. LOL

It does kinda suck. People really think this is a hard schedule?

 

[calvegas04]

It does kinda suck. People really think this is a hard schedule?

Rock hard

 

[stlnd01]

I heard to comply with the 9 game acc rule, should have removed the fcs game

Do we not count as an ACC game for ACC teams? We probably should, though I guess that might mess up their conference standings.

 

[stlnd01]

It does kinda suck. People really think this is a hard schedule?

We'd better hope USC works out and Miami's good because if not we may not play a ranked team next year. If it was this year we'd only play, what, two teams with winning records against P4 opponents?

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

It does kinda suck. People really think this is a hard schedule?

Schedule could be absolute ass. We should be highly rated next year also.

 

[T-Boone]

I’m so happy to see Stanford nowhere. That fake ass non-rivalry can go to hell and never return. I’d rather play Grand Valley State every year than that fucking team

Yep, if we want to play smart dudes play Harvard.

 

[Notre Dame Joe]

You think Purdue and Stanford are good?

The question is was it scheduled to be an easy game? Not if they are actually good when the game happens. I'd say Purdue is usually an easy game, unless you're Ohio State once a decade. Stanford is not on the schedule because it's a free win.