Time for new partner: Big 10 or SEC?

[Irish#1]

I want the SEC invite just to shit pump those tier 2 teams like Tenn/Ole Miss/Auburn/Florida who take more pride in being in the SEC than from their on field performances. I know they each have the capability of being top tier teams, but nothing worse than seeing them ranked in the top 10 in early October to finish 8-4 after being milked for quality wins by the bigger powers. I know I know Florida/Tenn can/want to be tier 1 teams but they've been hilariously inept recently.

The records support your argument.
Since 2010
UF's record is 118-84 with just 6 double digit win seasons.
Ole Miss is 115-83 with just 5 double digit win seasons.
Tenn is 111-88 with just 2 double digit win seasons.
Auburn is 120-84 with just 3 double digit win seasons.

 

[CoachB]

I don't love the idea of the SEC getting a 9th conference game. Just another chance to beat an overrated opponent. Would much rather an SEC/Big 10 or SEC/ACC challenge.

 

[ACamp1900]

I wish they could go back to the big east, pull back schools like Miami, FSU, Cuse, WV and others and restart the whole thing,… the idea of being forced into the sec or big is just such a giant L imo, hate it

 

[TorontoGold]

The records support your argument.
Since 2010
UF's record is 118-84 with just 6 double digit win seasons.
Ole Miss is 115-83 with just 5 double digit win seasons.
Tenn is 111-88 with just 2 double digit win seasons.
Auburn is 120-84 with just 3 double digit win seasons.

Sickening.

I was going to include Oklahoma but they’ve been pretty good in recent history and I might be biased against the Venables era teams. But

 

[ACamp1900]

I don't love the idea of the SEC getting a 9th conference game. Just another chance to beat an overrated opponent. Would much rather an SEC/Big 10 or SEC/ACC challenge.

They absolutely need to play each other more,… if they played an extra game this year we’re probably in. If you can get them to commit to playing big boys from elsewhere every year then fine I suppose but I’m super salty of five teams in this year when well over half the potential matchups between those five teams never happened and some of those that did apparently didn’t actually matter as real games etc

 

[Mike Petrik]

Valid point. I think it can be managed, but it would require a few important things to occur:

1) Colleges to commit to finding other ways to fund those sports. It's been so easy for them to just use football. If they really want to commit to doing it and are willing to get creative I'm sure they could come up with solutions.

2) That being said, maybe some athletic departments are bloated and things that are currently funded as D1 programs should be clubs or should compete at lower levels. Maybe only be D1 in a few select sports (like how Hopkins is only D1 in men's & women's lax).

3) Return to regional conferences - that helps the funding issue because travel expenses become greatly reduced.

It might also be worth remembering that somehow schools funded the Olympic sports before all the TV football money started coming in. I agree that it should be possible to do that again.

 

[tirishman505]

It might also be worth remembering that somehow schools funded the Olympic sports before all the TV football money started coming in. I agree that it should be possible to do that again.

I think the first step will probably be to separate football from other sports when it comes to conferences. Nearly all Olympics sports really should go back to local conference rivalries. Cal should not be flying cross country to compete in...cross country. I've heard this floated a number of times and it makes so much sense I know it won't be implemented.

 

[IrishinSyria]

They absolutely need to play each other more,… if they played an extra game this year we’re probably in. If you can get them to commit to playing big boys from elsewhere every year then fine I suppose but I’m super salty of five teams in this year when well over half the potential matchups between those five teams never happened and some of those that did apparently didn’t actually matter as real games etc

Absolutely this.

Consider: Texas A&M didn’t play a single one of the other 4 SEC playoff teams OR Vanderbilt this year. I don’t think any of the 5 SEC teams in the playoffs played more than 2 of the other. Forcing them to play an extra game will significantly reduce that sort of avoidance. It essentially adds 8 losses to be distributed across SEC teams, especially because across the entire conference they usually schedule a max of like 5 or 6 hard OOC games in any given year anyway and at least some of those won’t come off the calendar

 

[IrishinSyria]

I think the first step will probably be to separate football from other sports when it comes to conferences. Nearly all Olympics sports really should go back to local conference rivalries. Cal should not be flying cross country to compete in...cross country. I've heard this floated a number of times and it makes so much sense I know it won't be implemented.

Right, the Olympic sports have become unsustainable because they’ve had to expand their footprint for football and basketball driven reasons

 

[MacIrish75]

Wow. As a lifelong ND fan and a Duke alum I must say I'm astonished at the ignorance of so many of the posts on this thread. Do you seriously think that either the B1G or the SEC covet ND as a "business partner" in an arrangement that preserves football independence? Really? That is delusional. All the P4 conference would love to have ND as a full member, no question. But only the ACC and the Big 12 would cut the deal y'all seem to want.
And your anger toward the ACC is ridiculous. Of course, the ACC is going to lobby for its member, and no doubt it was unhappy that it had to be at the expense of its self-described "business partner." But a duty is a duty for crying out loud. It was ND who chose to be the ACC's girlfriend but not on Saturday night, and now it throws a fit when the ACC has another date for Saturday night?
And yes, the Irish deserved a spot and got jobbed. But not by Miami, which was also deserving, or the ACC, but by the Committee that put its thumb on the scale in favor of the SEC's Alabama. So, what is your response? To a lot of you, it is a bizarre let's change dance partners to the SEC -- the conference that jobbed you and does not want the relationship to which you think you are entitled.
Holy smoke, gents. Not a good look.

How many “lifelong ND fans” do y’all know who refer to ND in the third person? 🤔

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Wow. As a lifelong ND fan and a Duke alum I must say I'm astonished at the ignorance of so many of the posts on this thread. Do you seriously think that either the B1G or the SEC covet ND as a "business partner" in an arrangement that preserves football independence? Really? That is delusional. All the P4 conference would love to have ND as a full member, no question. But only the ACC and the Big 12 would cut the deal y'all seem to want.
And your anger toward the ACC is ridiculous. Of course, the ACC is going to lobby for its member, and no doubt it was unhappy that it had to be at the expense of its self-described "business partner." But a duty is a duty for crying out loud. It was ND who chose to be the ACC's girlfriend but not on Saturday night, and now it throws a fit when the ACC has another date for Saturday night?
And yes, the Irish deserved a spot and got jobbed. But not by Miami, which was also deserving, or the ACC, but by the Committee that put its thumb on the scale in favor of the SEC's Alabama. So, what is your response? To a lot of you, it is a bizarre let's change dance partners to the SEC -- the conference that jobbed you and does not want the relationship to which you think you are entitled.
Holy smoke, gents. Not a good look.

You convinced me because you are a total ND fan..

 

[pumpdog20]

Telling the SEC they need to play more tough games (via another conference game) seems a bit ingenious when we get coast for 9 or 10 of our games.

 

[tirishman505]

Telling the SEC they need to play more tough games (via another conference game) seems a bit ingenious when we get coast for 9 or 10 of our games.

ehh, i think this is more of a reaction to SEC teams (more specifically their fans and pundits) still riding herd on the "our 8 conference games are harder than your 9" than anything else. It certainly true of some SEC teams, but demonstrably not true for others.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Sickening.

I was going to include Oklahoma but they’ve been pretty good in recent history and I might be biased against the Venables era teams. But

True but pre-SEC they played in a league where defense was optional. Most assume that‘s why Riley bolted from OU only to find his new program joining another league that also plays competitive defense.

 

[Punky]

It might also be worth remembering that somehow schools funded the Olympic sports before all the TV football money started coming in. I agree that it should be possible to do that again.

The days before big TV money were also the days before Title IX. Nowadays, if you run crew or fencing or lacrosse, there has to be 2 teams. Back then, there were only men's teams for those types of sports. And a lot of schools then were still single gender.

 

[Irish#1]

Telling the SEC they need to play more tough games (via another conference game) seems a bit ingenious when we get coast for 9 or 10 of our games.

The only thing that needs to change is the false perception that simply because you’re in the SEC you’re better than the average team

 

[Dale]

I don’t care if it was a bowl, Oklahoma lost to Navy.

 

[TorontoGold]

True but pre-SEC they played in a league where defense was optional. Most assume that‘s why Riley bolted from OU only to find his new program joining another league that also plays competitive defense.

Yeah I probably gave them more credit for far away success (Murray/Mayfield) and playoff appearances than they deserve. Seems like they're becoming the SEC PSU, some exciting talents but just light their dick on fire when things get tough.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

 

[thekid33]

Just like I rejected Sydney Sweeney

 

[T-Boone]

When does Navy bother to get around to playing their 12th game? It would have been nice if they were 10-2 when it mattered.

 

[pumpdog20]

Saturday

 

[Notre Dame Joe]

They absolutely need to play each other more,… if they played an extra game this year we’re probably in. If you can get them to commit to playing big boys from elsewhere every year then fine I suppose but I’m super salty of five teams in this year when well over half the potential matchups between those five teams never happened and some of those that did apparently didn’t actually matter as real games etc

Yes the reason okay teams like Bama, Ole Miss and A&M are in the playoff is because they played the bottom of the conference and not each other.

 

[IrishinSyria]

When does Navy bother to get around to playing their 12th game? It would have been nice if they were 10-2 when it mattered.

wouldn’t have made a difference. They’re 22 in the AP poll, committee left them out because it made the argument for excluding us cleaner.

 

[FWIrish4]

wouldn’t have made a difference. They’re 22 in the AP poll, committee left them out because it made the argument for excluding us cleaner.

Exactly.

Couldn’t have ND at 2-2 with the “razor thin” margin between ND and Alabama the week prior.

Also, 2-2 looks a helluva better than Miami’s 1-0 against the Top 25 and proves Miami losing TWICE without playing another Top 25 team should have correctly been held against them.

 

[Hautian Domer]

Get 4 guaranteed SEC and 4 guaranteed Big 10 games per year. Then we have the Clemson deal, Navy, and 2 other fillers. Come on PB, a man can dream.

I was about to post the same. Either 2 ACC / 2 Big 10 / 2 Big 12 / 2 SEC or some combo. I prefer your 4 & 4 tho

 

[DillonHall]

I was about to post the same. Either 2 ACC / 2 Big 10 / 2 Big 12 / 2 SEC or some combo. I prefer your 4 & 4 tho

While we're at it, let's see if the B1G and SEC will pay us $3 million per game to play them. Seriously guys, why the hell would either of those conferences guarantee those games for us?

 

[Hautian Domer]

The only thing that needs to change is the false perception that simply because you’re in the SEC you’re better than the average team

Agreed. I do believe SEC has better than average talent, but not teams, collectively. I think there’s a lot of poorly coached teams in the SEC and more individualism amongst players

 

[Hautian Domer]

While we're at it, let's see if the B1G and SEC will pay us $3 million per game to play them. Seriously guys, why the hell would either of those conferences guarantee those games for us?

Worth a shot to get creative instead of the sack of shit ACC deal we’re currently saddled with.

Wake Forest/Virginia/Duke/Syracuse/Boston College/Stanford/NC State you ask? SIGN ME UP! /s

 

[Pointman02]

Yeah, I think the four SEC games would be hugely helpful. We go 5-1 against the ACC and get no credit. All we do is knock the teams we beat out of the top 25, make Miami appear better than us, but give the conference as a whole look week. We got unlucky this year with Arkansas losing a bunch of close games and finishing last in the SEC, but if we added games against even Mizzou and Auburn, we’d either add a ranked win or at least have some good comparison points against the 5-6 SEC teams that the committee obviously wants to stuff into the CFP. The SEC is the only conference that we can go 3-1 against and the media talking points will focus on how good ND is, not how weak the opponent conference is.