General team info

[zelezo vlk]

I thought we had until 29

 

[greyhammer90]

I thought we had until 29

Not sure. Mentock mentioned on the II podcast last week that this upcoming night game might be the last time we get to see them in our stadium.

It's just a real damn shame. Clemson is cool but its not USC. USC dropping us to play another B1G game against Minnesota or Purdue would piss me off even more were I a USC fan.

 

[BoredIrish]

I believe 2026 is the last currently scheduled game.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Yeah, this may be the last time the Trojans visit South Bend for a long, long time. Absolute cowardice.

I can guarantee you there will be some mouth breathers who try to compare USC backing out to ND "backing out" of scUM..... completely different situations.

The ND/scUM stuff made sense as ND had to pivot from regular regional rivalries to the 5 ACC game commitment (in a strategic effort to remain independent), and their desire to travel nationwide to reach their national alumni base, and for recruiting. Having a 5 game ACC plus annual game against those skumbags obviously would've restricted that. And let's not pretend like scUM didn't back out of the series a dozen times before that. Everyone acts like scUM was the only annual rivalry we walked away from and conveniently ignores the lesser brands like MSU and Purdue, who were also important historic rivalries we were all used to watching most, if not every, fall.

This is just USC getting smacked around and looking to schedule a cupcake in our stead.

 

[dublinirish]

the travel they have to do in the BigTen just isn't sustainable

 

[greyhammer90]

the travel they have to do in the BigTen just isn't sustainable

One additional trip to the Midwest every two years cannot be the reason to kill off one of your most storied rivalries.

 

[KPENN]

Plain and simple, they’re pussies and ND has been running the series. If it was the way it was in the early to late 2000s they wouldn’t be cancelling

 

[calvegas04]

I'd rather not play Clemson every year, there isn't anything exciting about them. Rather use that game to schedule other teams we don't play often.

 

[pumpdog20]

Just join the Big Ten and have the USC game be the protected rivalry.
And every other year in Iowa City, thanks.

 

[RDU Irish]

I'd rather not play Clemson every year, there isn't anything exciting about them. Rather use that game to schedule other teams we don't play often.

Clemson is a paper tiger, small market team that won't keep up in NIL era. Elite top end talent staying healthy to cover up a questionable 2 deep. They haven't cracked the recruiting ranking top 10 since 2021. Transfer portal and NIL are not a good combo for Dabo IMO.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Just join the Big Ten and have the USC game be the protected rivalry.
And every other year in Iowa City, thanks.

I'm struggling with this. Join the B1G because our rival is playing chicken?

 

[rikkitikki08]

Fuck USC, pussies

USC wants out because the product on the field has been one sided for awhile. Another classic rivalry lost due to conference realignment

 

[dublinirish]

I'd rather not play Clemson every year, there isn't anything exciting about them. Rather use that game to schedule other teams we don't play often.

the opportunity to play a Proper decent SEC and Big10 team going forward will be smaller

 

[Irish8248]

With our recent focus in the Carolinas, this kind of makes more sense than ending in CA to visit the few targets we have on the west coast.

Fuck USC though. Always forever

 

[pumpdog20]

I'm struggling with this. Join the B1G because our rival is playing chicken?

Well, more so that they come to Iowa every once in a while. And teams around me like Minnesota and Nebraska.
It's me being selfish, plus the whole independence thing has never been that big of a deal for me.

 

[ulukinatme]

Clemson is a paper tiger, small market team that won't keep up in NIL era. Elite top end talent staying healthy to cover up a questionable 2 deep. They haven't cracked the recruiting ranking top 10 since 2021. Transfer portal and NIL are not a good combo for Dabo IMO.

This is my thought. Clemson will always be decent, but I think their time of dominance is over for a bit at least. It could get worse when Dabo moves on. It may be time to consider joining the B1G. I don't like it, but trading USC for Clemson, even if Clemson has been much more successful on the field in recent years, just feels...shitty. At this point almost all our tradition rivals are in the B1G. SC is the team we have the longest history with after Navy, and we've only played 2 more games all time against Navy.

So USC at #2 for most games played, Purdue is #3, MSU is #5, Northwestern is #7, Michigan at #9, then Indiana at #14, then surprisingly Iowa at #15.
Among ACC rivals it's not as close: Pitt is #4, GT at #8 surprisingly, recent ACC addition Stanford at #10, BC at #12, and Miami at #13. All these rivalries pretty much suck in comparison, although Miami has some bad blood and is fun.
The rest of the Top 15 not listed were Navy at #1, Army at #6, and Air Force at #11.

 

[RDU Irish]

This is my thought. Clemson will always be decent, but I think their time of dominance is over for a bit at least. It could get worse when Dabo moves on. It may be time to consider joining the B1G. I don't like it, but trading USC for Clemson, even if Clemson has been much more successful on the field in recent years, just feels...shitty. At this point almost all our tradition rivals are in the B1G. SC is the team we have the longest history with after Navy, and we've only played 2 more games all time against Navy.

So USC at #2 for most games played, Purdue is #3, MSU is #5, Northwestern is #7, Michigan at #9, then Indiana at #14, then surprisingly Iowa at #15.
Among ACC rivals it's not as close: Pitt is #4, GT at #8 surprisingly, recent ACC addition Stanford at #10, BC at #12, and Miami at #13. All these rivalries pretty much suck in comparison, although Miami has some bad blood and is fun.
The rest of the Top 15 not listed were Navy at #1, Army at #6, and Air Force at #11.

Agree wholeheartedly - except FUUUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKK Miami

 

[ulukinatme]

Agree wholeheartedly - except FUUUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKK Miami

We're going to kick their ass this year. Miami thought they should have been in the playoffs last year, their fans said they'd wipe the floor with us. They had an inflated ranking playing a bunch of offensively weak teams in 10 of their first 11 games, then they lost 3 of their last 4. If we come out firing on all cylinders they'll struggle with our defense and we'll crush 'em.

 

[calvegas04]

Should have got UCLA on the schedule yearly

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Should have got UCLA on the schedule yearly

I agree. Southern California is absolutely loaded with talent and if you’re a stud at one of the Mission League schools, then you’re likely gonna be a contributor in college. Having a “home” game every other year has got to help with recruitment.

 

[stlnd01]

I'm struggling with this. Join the B1G because our rival is playing chicken?

No. There are like six better reasons to join the B1G (the superior TV money, the looming AQ playoff slots, the chance to schedule other powers like Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, etc. as well as historic regional rivals like Purdue and Sparty, the chance to stop playing endless mid ACC teams who excite no one, better travel for our Olympic sports, etc.) and, then, yeah so we can keep playing USC.

I was always a fan of us being independent, and the ACC deal was a way to maintain that. But honestly it gets harder to argue for by the month. If the sport is morphing into two conferences that matter and a bunch of also-rans, we should be in one of those two, and the B1G makes a lot more sense than the alternative.

 

[Irish du Nord]

We're going to kick their ass this year. Miami thought they should have been in the playoffs last year, their fans said they'd wipe the floor with us. They had an inflated ranking playing a bunch of offensively weak teams in 10 of their first 11 games, then they lost 3 of their last 4. If we come out firing on all cylinders they'll struggle with our defense and we'll crush 'em.

They could’ve shown it if they didn’t bail out on the game!

 

[FWIrish4]

Seems to contradict the initial report iirc. So according to Jim, an ACC team doesn’t count towards the ACC deal? Okay bozo.

I just want to make sure I’m understanding this correctly:

- Stanford already doesn’t “count” towards 1/5 required ACC games unless they are on a specific year’s rotation.
- the ACC publicly stated it was going to have Clemson, FSU and Miami play ND regularly to drive up tv ratings and dollars.
- now Clemson will NOT “count” towards our annual 5 game ACC slate unless they were already on the rotation that year. Even though the ACC needed this to happen.
- if Stanford and Clemson are both on the calendar in a non-ACC scheduled year, we would have to play 5 ACC + Stanford + Clemson for 7 total ACC games? Absolutely not.
- Miami can easily break the agreement within a year’s notice but ND has no say on restructuring the 5 game requirement?

we’re carrying the water for ACC and something’s gotta give.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

No. There are like six better reasons to join the B1G (the superior TV money, the looming AQ playoff slots, the chance to schedule other powers like Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, etc. as well as historic regional rivals like Purdue and Sparty, the chance to stop playing endless mid ACC teams who excite no one, better travel for our Olympic sports, etc.) and, then, yeah so we can keep playing USC.

I was always a fan of us being independent, and the ACC deal was a way to maintain that. But honestly it gets harder to argue for by the month. If the sport is morphing into two conferences that matter and a bunch of also-rans, we should be in one of those two, and the B1G makes a lot more sense than the alternative.

I definitely share in the opinion that ND should join the B1G eventually as well. I think it's heading in that direction as the two super conferences continue to take form. I'm just hoping to hold out for a little while longer and enjoy what's left of our independence. I also think it's hilarious how much it bothers other fans and programs.

The SEC and B1G will both be drooling over ND if/when the time comes. I really don't see a world where one or both wouldn't do whatever it took to land our brand and add it to the fold, compared to the rest of the scraps that are out there to be plucked.

I definitely don't think USC likely canceling the series is a reason why we should have a knee jerk reaction and *finally* join a conference (I'm not saying you implied this either, just stating). Fuck em. Let them play SJSU in our stead and still lose 4 games a year.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I just want to make sure I’m understanding this correctly:

- Stanford already doesn’t “count” towards 1/5 required ACC games unless they are on a specific year’s rotation.
- the ACC publicly stated it was going to have Clemson, FSU and Miami play ND regularly to drive up tv ratings and dollars.
- now Clemson will NOT “count” towards our annual 5 game ACC slate unless they were already on the rotation that year. Even though the ACC needed this to happen.
- if Stanford and Clemson are both on the calendar in a non-ACC scheduled year, we would have to play 5 ACC + Stanford + Clemson for 7 total ACC games? Absolutely not.
- Miami can easily break the agreement within a year’s notice but ND has no say on restructuring the 5 game requirement?

we’re carrying the water for ACC and something’s gotta give.

The benefit to ND is that it reduces the burden of needing to go find games to schedule now that the SEC and B10 are supposedly eyeing 9 conference games per season. This isn't as one-sided as you portray it, I'm guessing ND has more say in how these games are counted than is being leaked. ND wants a home for it's other sports, it needs the ACC to exist so it can push back against automatic bids for conferences that reduce the window of opportunity for non-B10SEC programs with the coming playoff re-expansion.

It is readily apparent the moment ND decides to pull out of the agreement with the ACC, the entire thing implodes. There aren't enough power programs to draw eyes/make $. ND is doing this because it's good for ND.

 

[dublinirish]

the need to recruit SoCal the week after the season finale (USC or Stanford) isnt what it used to be nowadays with the signing day so quick after. Coaches need to be back in South Bend then, not on the road going up and down the 101

 

[GoIrish41]

No. There are like six better reasons to join the B1G (the superior TV money, the looming AQ playoff slots, the chance to schedule other powers like Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, etc. as well as historic regional rivals like Purdue and Sparty, the chance to stop playing endless mid ACC teams who excite no one, better travel for our Olympic sports, etc.) and, then, yeah so we can keep playing USC.

I was always a fan of us being independent, and the ACC deal was a way to maintain that. But honestly it gets harder to argue for by the month. If the sport is morphing into two conferences that matter and a bunch of also-rans, we should be in one of those two, and the B1G makes a lot more sense than the alternative.

The TV money is not superior. ND doesn’t have to share their take.

 

[Dale]

The TV money is not superior. ND doesn’t have to share their take.

The TV money is superior in the B1G. ND views it as a worthwhile cost of being Independent and gets money from donors that secure that status quo as such. But objectively the B1G gets more TV money than Notre Dame.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

The TV money is superior in the B1G. ND views it as a worthwhile cost of being Independent and gets money from donors that secure that status quo as such. But objectively the B1G gets more TV money than Notre Dame.

Even when shared?

 

[FWIrish4]

The benefit to ND is that it reduces the burden of needing to go find games to schedule now that the SEC and B10 are supposedly eyeing 9 conference games per season. This isn't as one-sided as you portray it, I'm guessing ND has more say in how these games are counted than is being leaked. ND wants a home for it's other sports, it needs the ACC to exist so it can push back against automatic bids for conferences that reduce the window of opportunity for non-B10SEC programs with the coming playoff re-expansion.

It is readily apparent the moment ND decides to pull out of the agreement with the ACC, the entire thing implodes. There aren't enough power programs to draw eyes/make $. ND is doing this because it's good for ND.

I hear what you’re saying, but ND clearly wants the Clemson series to count as 1/5 of their annual ACC game commitment. So there is a disconnect currently and I’m obviously irked that Miami can just drop a game within a year’s notice, but I doubt ND has that type of leverage.