2020 ND Football Schedule Options

[Irish YJ]

If other leagues go in-conference only, AND if the ACC is being honest about doing whatever is needed to help ND.... below are ACC options for all of our potential holes. I'm sure other INDs are options to. I could see Army and BYU as legit options.

I sure would love to play in the ACC championship.

Just looking at the schedule.

Safe games
Sat, Sep 26 vs Wake Forest *

Sat, Oct 17 @ Pittsburgh

Sat, Oct 31 vs Duke

Sat, Nov 7 vs Clemson

Sat, Nov 14 @ Georgia Tech

Sat, Nov 21 vs Louisville

---------------------------------------------------
Sat, Aug 29 @ Navy
Keep? Likely moved to Sept 5
Possible 0905 replacements
Navy is open
North Carolina @ UCF
Liberty @ Virginia Tech
Temple @ Miami
Georgia vs Virginia

Sat, Sep 12 vs Arkansas
Possible 0912 replacements
Penn State @ Virginia Tech - already canceled
Syracuse @ Rutgers - already canceled
Ohio @ Boston College
Samford @ Florida State
Wagner @ Miami
VMI @ Virginia
Auburn vs North Carolina

Sat, Sep 19 vs Western Michigan
Close proximity, so keep?
Possible 0919 replacements
UAB @ Miami
James Madison @ North Carolina
NC State @ Troy
Colgate @ Syracuse
UConn @ Virginia
Florida State @ Boise State
Virginia Tech @ Middle Tennessee
Boston College @ Kansas

Sat, Oct 3 vs Wisconsin (already canceled)
All ACC teams playing.

Sat, Oct 10 vs Stanford
Possible 1010 replacements
Syracuse - off
Virginia - off

Sat, Nov 28 @ USC
Possible 1128 replacements
Florida @ Florida State

 

[irishfan]

Given the fact that SEC/ACC have 8 conference games as opposed to 9 and that they have a few cross-conference rivalries, I wonder if they will go conference-play only +1 or +2.

We have the 6 ACC games already. We’ll likely get a 7th to replace Wisconsin. Round that out with Navy, Arkansas, Western Michigan (or Army to help out another independent?)

 

[Irish#1]

Get the Seminoles up to SB on November 28.

 

[317Irish]

This might have already been addressed, but do we know if we will have permission to schedule games outside of the ACC? That is, if the ACC says only intraconference schedules are allowed, and ND is included as an ACC member, wouldn’t we have to abide by that rule?

 

[irish4ever]

Get the Seminoles up to SB on November 28.

I'm all in on that!

 

[irish4ever]

If the Irish would get to play in the ACC championship, I wouldn't mind seeing the U$C game NOT being replaced and use that w/e as a prep wk. for the ACC championship, which I assume would be the 1st Sat. of Dec.

 

[stpeteirish]

Given the fact that SEC/ACC have 8 conference games as opposed to 9 and that they have a few cross-conference rivalries, I wonder if they will go conference-play only +1 or +2.

We have the 6 ACC games already. We’ll likely get a 7th to replace Wisconsin. Round that out with Navy, Arkansas, Western Michigan (or Army to help out another independent?)

we still owe BYU a game. And they are going to need 6 games if the P5 drops non conf.

 

[Legacy]

For a nine game schedule, equivalent to P5 conference-only schedules with those who play eight adding one, my preference would be:

Navy is scheduling ND for Sept 5. Since we played Va and Va Tech last year and will next year, they are not options for any slots. That leaves Syracuse as the only option for Oct 10. Since no ACC teams are available for Oct 3, open dates would then be Sept 12, 19 and Oct 24 ending the seaon after Nov 21.

I'd leave Sept 19th open. Options for the 12th (w/o Va, VaTech, Syracuse) would be:

Ohio @ Boston College
Samford @ Florida State
Wagner @ Miami
Auburn vs North Carolina

NC was playing Auburn at a neutral site. They may be open to doing the same with ND.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

For a nine game schedule, equivalent to P5 conference-only schedules with those who play eight adding one, my preference would be:

Navy is scheduling ND for Sept 5. Since we played Va and Va Tech last year and will next year, they are not options for any slots. That leaves Syracuse as the only option for Oct 10. Since no ACC teams are available for Oct 3, open dates would then be Sept 12, 19 and Oct 24 ending the seaon after Nov 21.

I'd leave Sept 19th open. Options for the 12th (w/o Va, VaTech, Syracuse) would be:

Ohio @ Boston College
Samford @ Florida State
Wagner @ Miami
Auburn vs North Carolina

NC was playing Auburn at a neutral site. They may be open to doing the same with ND.

I don't think Navy is anywhere near a guarantee. Lot of details still need to be figured out, but if the ACC is already saying "ACC Only schedule," I'm sure they're not going to let ND bend those rules if they are going to kick us extra games. In other words, ND won't be allowed to play someone outside of the ACC, then play ACC teams. They'll likely have to follow the same rules.

That would mean no Navy, WMU, Arkansas, USC, or Stanford, the latter two are already out IMO with the Pac 12 likely to follow suit with the other conferences.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I don't think Navy is anywhere near a guarantee. Lot of details still need to be figured out, but if the ACC is already saying "ACC Only schedule," I'm sure they're not going to let ND bend those rules if they are going to kick us extra games. In other words, ND won't be allowed to play someone outside of the ACC, then play ACC teams. They'll likely have to follow the same rules.

That would mean no Navy, WMU, Arkansas, USC, or Stanford, the latter two are already out IMO with the Pac 12 likely to follow suit with the other conferences.

Counterpoint: the statement was that the ACC would help ND with however many games they need to fill. ND tells them they are playing Navy unless the AAC forbids it. Heck, call up Army and BYU to help them out too, and then you only gotta add 3 games.

 

[Irishnuke]

It’s going to be a shit show. Not just ND’s schedule. Any attempt at some sort of season in any sport is going to be a shit show.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

It’s going to be a shit show. Not just ND’s schedule. Any attempt at some sort of season in any sport is going to be a shit show.

Pretty much.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[irishfan]

I don't think Navy is anywhere near a guarantee. Lot of details still need to be figured out, but if the ACC is already saying "ACC Only schedule," I'm sure they're not going to let ND bend those rules if they are going to kick us extra games. In other words, ND won't be allowed to play someone outside of the ACC, then play ACC teams. They'll likely have to follow the same rules.

That would mean no Navy, WMU, Arkansas, USC, or Stanford, the latter two are already out IMO with the Pac 12 likely to follow suit with the other conferences.

Wondering if there’s a scenario we can play our ACC games (8-10 games?) and then schedule Navy during conf champ week? And/or Army/BYU the week before that?

What I’d love to do is play Navy early. Take a 1-2 week bye or whatever the ACC says we would need to do before beginning the 8–10 game ACC schedule. Have the flexibility to go out to CA and play USC or Stanford during conference championship week to end the season.

 

[Legacy]

I don't think Navy is anywhere near a guarantee. Lot of details still need to be figured out, but if the ACC is already saying "ACC Only schedule," I'm sure they're not going to let ND bend those rules if they are going to kick us extra games. In other words, ND won't be allowed to play someone outside of the ACC, then play ACC teams. They'll likely have to follow the same rules.

That would mean no Navy, WMU, Arkansas, USC, or Stanford, the latter two are already out IMO with the Pac 12 likely to follow suit with the other conferences.

I made a nine game schedule since some P5 conferences play nine conference games. The ones with eight conference games would be able to include one rival game - e.g. Florida-Fla State. Having added Syracuse in my nine game proposal which would play four Atlantic Divisions and the three Coastal divisions, we could round out a twelve game schedule opening with Alabama on 9/5, move Navy to 9/12 and add two more Atlantic division teams.

 

[stpeteirish]

To me the issue is whether or not to "join" the ACC for this year or piece together a schedule with a combination of ACC and non ACC teams. If the ACC goes "conference only" it'll probably be a 10 game schedule with no other games. We'd either join the Atlantic and add BC, FSU Syr and NC St or join the Coastal and add N Car, VaTech, Miami and UVA. Kind of a wash except for the fact that we already are playing Clemson so if we are in the Atlantic and beat Clemson we have a pretty easy path to the Playoffs and if we are in the Coastal we'd have to beat them twice. So if we have the choice I'd go with the Atlantic.

If we go the other route we can probably keep Navy and Western Michigan. If the SEC gives their teams a +1 Arkansas would likely want to stay on our schedule ($). We could easily add BYU to get to ten and might even be able to go to 11 or 12 if we want as there is no conference telling us how many games we can play.

Option 1 is probably better from a strength of schedule standpoint. But if we beat Clemson they wouldn't deny an undefeated ND team the playoffs would they? I guess we need to hear from the "experts" on that.

 

[Irish#1]

We don’t know the details except that the ACC would help in filling out the schedule. I’ve not heard anything that would restrict us from scheduling other games unless they state that we can compete for the league championship, but I doubt that will be part of the agreement.

 

[KPENN]

I don’t think there’s any reason to worry. At this point I can’t see the season happening on time.

 

[TorontoGold]

In terms of bowl games, do we think that it's likely NY6 + a few others?

 

[Irish#1]

I don’t think there’s any reason to worry. At this point I can’t see the season happening on time.

That’s why the B1G is going conference opponents only. They don’t think the season will start on time. Still strange they announced so early as they could have waited until August 1 to let things sort out a little more, then make their announcement.

 

[Irishize]

In terms of bowl games, do we think that it's likely NY6 + a few others?

Good question. COVID is all but guaranteed to adversely affect the fall. If it’s still unknown or obviously not curtailed before winter, I suspect bowl games are out the window. If they can cobble together a semblance of a season to determine a CFP or NY6, then let’s hope they have folks working on contingencies to ensure quarantine via travel & hotel to the bowl city.

Ironically, the sites of the major bowls included in NY6 & CFP reside in states that are experiencing huge increases in new COVID cases: CA, AZ, TX, GA, FL, LA

 

[NDdomer2]

That’s why the B1G is going conference opponents only. They don’t think the season will start on time. Still strange they announced so early as they could have waited until August 1 to let things sort out a little more, then make their announcement.

There's probably far more logistics to adopting a new schedule and building in contingencies than we can imagine so I'm sure they wanted to get as early a start on it as possible.

Outside the ACc commissioner stating they would help us out, do we know them going to an all conference schedule means our current ACC games are locked in?

 

[Chicago Domer]

If the ACC would buy in, I would like to see us play in the ACC this fall and get the benefit of having a chance to play in a championship game. Go back to Independence next year. It’s a once in a Lifetime year anyways.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

If college football doesn't happen this year, I'll be locked up in a room with 4 rubber walls. Please send vodka, chocolate chip cookies (soft not hard), and a free trial to pornhub. Thanks, fellas.

 

[Circa]

This might have already been addressed, but do we know if we will have permission to schedule games outside of the ACC? That is, if the ACC says only intraconference schedules are allowed, and ND is included as an ACC member, wouldn’t we have to abide by that rule?

If we can't be included in their bowl system as a #1 then hell no. We should go full Independent again anyway. We're handing the ACC too much money to begin with.

 

[Irish YJ]

Assuming the ACC follows the PAC and BIG, I'd guess that they go conference only, and at most, conference only plus one (for rivalries). My money is on conference only, and simply increasing the schedule to 10 games and having two buys.

Regardless, I'd be more than happy to go ACC only, and to join one side of the conference. Since we play Clemson already, would prefer it be the Atlantic so we wouldn't have to play them again in the ACCC.

 

[Ndaccountant]

In terms of bowl games, do we think that it's likely NY6 + a few others?

2020-21
Wednesday, Dec. 30 -- Cotton Bowl
Friday, Jan. 1 -- Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl semifinal, Sugar Bowl semifinal
Saturday, Jan. 2 -- Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl
Monday, Jan. 11 -- CFP National Championship in Miami Gardens, Florida


If you think through this, it would be a significant miracle to make a schedule like this work at the moment. My money would be on no postseason at all.

 

[Ndaccountant]

That’s why the B1G is going conference opponents only. They don’t think the season will start on time. Still strange they announced so early as they could have waited until August 1 to let things sort out a little more, then make their announcement.

Aside from the logistics piece already noted, I think it's also window dressing for the inevitable. If you listen to what Gene Smith said last week, the man clearly is defeated. I think this is more about giving the impression that people at least tried to figure something out before going full out cancel.

 

[Irish YJ]

2020-21
Wednesday, Dec. 30 -- Cotton Bowl
Friday, Jan. 1 -- Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl semifinal, Sugar Bowl semifinal
Saturday, Jan. 2 -- Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl
Monday, Jan. 11 -- CFP National Championship in Miami Gardens, Florida


If you think through this, it would be a significant miracle to make a schedule like this work at the moment. My money would be on no postseason at all.

A lot could happen before then (medically), so I wouldn't rule anything out. If there's not some type of advancement though, I could easily see them going back to a two team only championship game. I could also see them going with the dates and games that you list. The good thing is, they don't have to decide right now.

 

[Ndaccountant]

A lot could happen before then (medically), so I wouldn't rule anything out. If there's not some type of advancement though, I could easily see them going back to a two team only championship game. I could also see them going with the dates and games that you list. The good thing is, they don't have to decide right now.

If there is the limit to two, I think it's more likely. That said, even if something were to come through medically (treatment, vaccine, or otherwise), I find it really unlikely that college football athletes (versus other students / school staff / etc) would be given preferential treatment, especially in this political environment. Additionally, even if people were told not to, it would create the potential for additional spread as fans would flock to Miami to part of the experience. I don't think AD's. school presidents and government officials would want any part of that.

I am personally mentally preparing for no season, or at best, 1 or 2 games. I just hope this is solved for 2021.

 

[Irish#1]

Aside from the logistics piece already noted, I think it's also window dressing for the inevitable. If you listen to what Gene Smith said last week, the man clearly is defeated. I think this is more about giving the impression that people at least tried to figure something out before going full out cancel.

Possibly, but I don't see what benefit there is in doing this. It's not like they started COVID. Playing an all ACC schedule is a possibility, but I don't see where they allow ND to play in the CG. That would be something of an embarrassment for the conference if ND were to make it to the CG and even more if they won it. The detractors would be having a field day stating how weak the ACC is. I also don't think the farmers (conference presidents and AD's) would be happy to provide meal and shelter for a night, only to find out the weary traveler banged his daughter, then left at sunrise.