The Optimal Notre Dame Scheduling Model

stlnd01

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IDK. Drilling BYU repeatedly would shut an exceedingly passive-aggressive asshole fanbase up for once. That might make it somewhat worthwhile.
Aren't all the BYU fans in the Mountain West? Living pretty much my whole life in the Northeast and Midwest, I don't think I've ever (knowingly) met a BYU fan. I don't even think about them. Whereas Michigan fans? I know lots of them. And I care lots more about shutting them up.
 

MeanGreenBeans

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That stadium they play in looks like an absolute shithole and only holds 35k. No thanks.
Also, I'm just gonna add that the whole idea of playing an end of year game somewhere warm (California) is outdated and a holdover from the pre-bowl days. It's not necessary and shouldn't be a factor in scheduling.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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Also, I'm just gonna add that the whole idea of playing an end of year game somewhere warm (California) is outdated and a holdover from the pre-bowl days. It's not necessary and shouldn't be a factor in scheduling.
I agree, but wasn't the purpose of finishing up in Cali was so the staff could recruit the following week out there?

Not to mention the massive fan base ND has out there.
 

MeanGreenBeans

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I agree, but wasn't the purpose of finishing up in Cali was so the staff could recruit the following week out there?

Not to mention the massive fan base ND has out there.
Must've missed that. Yeah that would make more sense than the 1960s rationale of wanting to finish the season somewhere warm. I have no problem with playing games in CA (southern CA at least), but it seems like we're starting to focus our recruiting efforts less and less there and shifting more towards other states like TX, GA, FL, and NC. And catering to the CA portion of the ND fanbase doesn't mean we need to play the last game of the regular season there every year.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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Must've missed that. Yeah that would make more sense than the 1960s rationale of wanting to finish the season somewhere warm. I have no problem with playing games in CA (southern CA at least), but it seems like we're starting to focus our recruiting efforts less and less there and shifting more towards other states like TX, GA, FL, and NC. And catering to the CA portion of the ND fanbase doesn't mean we need to play the last game of the regular season there every year.
I don't think it ever had anything to do with finishing the season somewhere warm. I think it was all about rewarding the massive fan base ND has in Cali and, more importantly, recruiting. The last class had about 25 offers out in Cali. This current class appears to be the same currently. 2028 they already have about a dozen out that are reported. Stanford is and USC was annual rivals for ND. I don't know who came up with the idea, but it has been a post Holtz scheduling staple.

I believe they played away at Stanford in 1999 and the rotation of Stanford and USC ending the regular season has remained ever since. 2003 at Syracuse the first week of December (one week after playing at Stanford) and 2020 Covid being the lone exceptions. The 2020 regular season ended in South Bend against, oddly enough, Syracuse.
 

MeanGreenBeans

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I don't think it ever had anything to do with finishing the season somewhere warm. I think it was all about rewarding the massive fan base ND has in Cali and, more importantly, recruiting. The last class had about 25 offers out in Cali. This current class appears to be the same currently. 2028 they already have about a dozen out that are reported. Stanford is and USC was annual rivals for ND. I don't know who came up with the idea, but it has been a post Holtz scheduling staple.

I believe they played away at Stanford in 1999 and the rotation of Stanford and USC ending the regular season has remained ever since. 2003 at Syracuse the first week of December (one week after playing at Stanford) and 2020 Covid being the lone exceptions. The 2020 regular season ended in South Bend against, oddly enough, Syracuse.
I'm only in my early 40s and don't pretend to be a ND historian. But I think before we started playing bowl games in 1970, we would usually end the regular season somewhere warm. Good info re: the amount of offers in Cali not really changing lately. Maybe I'm imagining this, but it just doesn't seem like the staff is spending as much time in CA or signing as many recruits from CA as they used to.

You're correct re: Stanford/USC away games to end the regular season in alternating years since 1999. I was at the 1999 Stanford game and it felt like a low point for ND football. So thanks for reminding me.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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I'm only in my early 40s and don't pretend to be a ND historian. But I think before we started playing bowl games in 1970, we would usually end the regular season somewhere warm. Good info re: the amount of offers in Cali not really changing lately. Maybe I'm imagining this, but it just doesn't seem like the staff is spending as much time in CA or signing as many recruits from CA as they used to.

You're correct re: Stanford/USC away games to end the regular season in alternating years since 1999. I was at the 1999 Stanford game and it felt like a low point for ND football. So thanks for reminding me.
I'm 48 years old and the temp at kickoff at Stanford this past season was? 48 degrees. LOL. SC I could see being warmer. The Bay Area in November at night? Not so much.

I recall a season finale at Hawaii and I know there were seasons they finished the regular season at Coral Gables. You might be right. I just know in the Bush Gore Century they have finished up out in Cali and the reasons for that to the best of my knowledge are as stated. Big ND fanbase in Cali and recruiting.

Your point about not focusing on Cali might be imagined, but I'm imaging it with you because I have similar perception. Doesn't seem as important as it used to be, but I make the same point about Chicago and have for years. It's a national landscape now, for everyone. Saban had a QB from Hawaii at one point. The recruiting landscape has shifted even prior to NIL and The Portal. It's certainly far more national now than it was 30 years ago and ND has an even bigger reach since then, and more recently because the head coach is a national figure more than his predecessors.
 

stlnd01

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I looked it up recently because I was curious and pondering attending the Syracuse game. We have played Thanksgiving weekend in a warm-weather climate every year going back to the 70s.

USC of course in even-number years. And in the odds before Stanford it was Miami in the 80s, and occasionally Hawaii. Some years we simply didn’t play that weekend (hard to imagine now).

I’m sure the California fan base is part of it, and maybe recruiting, but also reluctance on ND’s part to have a home game when students are away and our widely-distributed fan base might be less likely to come. IDK if still true but for a long time, the last non-sellout at Notre Dame Stadium was the last time we had a home game Thanksgiving Weekend, in the early 70s.

Add in all the long-established rivalry games that weekend and, if we must go on the road, there are only so many options. But you know who doesn’t have a Thanksgiving rival? Miami.
 

Punky

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Cal is in the ACC now, so maybe lean on Phillips to schedule that game at the end of the season when they come up in the rotation?
 

MeanGreenBeans

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I looked it up recently because I was curious and pondering attending the Syracuse game. We have played Thanksgiving weekend in a warm-weather climate every year going back to the 70s.

USC of course in even-number years. And in the odds before Stanford it was Miami in the 80s, and occasionally Hawaii. Some years we simply didn’t play that weekend (hard to imagine now).

I’m sure the California fan base is part of it, and maybe recruiting, but also reluctance on ND’s part to have a home game when students are away and our widely-distributed fan base might be less likely to come. IDK if still true but for a long time, the last non-sellout at Notre Dame Stadium was the last time we had a home game Thanksgiving Weekend, in the early 70s.

Add in all the long-established rivalry games that weekend and, if we must go on the road, there are only so many options. But you know who doesn’t have a Thanksgiving rival? Miami.
ND @ Miami every other Thanksgiving weekend would be fucking amazing.
 

MeanGreenBeans

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Cal is in the ACC now, so maybe lean on Phillips to schedule that game at the end of the season when they come up in the rotation?
I hate the idea of scheduling Cal. But I guess we're going to play them either way as part of the ACC agreement.
 

stlnd01

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Cal is in the ACC now, so maybe lean on Phillips to schedule that game at the end of the season when they come up in the rotation?
Cal is only in the ACC because Stanford is in the ACC. And Stanford is only in the ACC because of Swarbrick. I’d say they owe us.
 

allenm5333

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I agree, but wasn't the purpose of finishing up in Cali was so the staff could recruit the following week out there?

Not to mention the massive fan base ND has out there.
Calendar has changed. If you make it to playoffs, you going home to prep immediately. Early signing day helps
 

NDPhilly

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USC has a (on paper) manageable 2027 and one spot available. I think they have too much pride to reschedule us so quick as optically
It looks like they just wanted an out for their tough 2026 ( which would be 100% correct). But that’s the path of least resistance to a marquee, top 25, game.

Other options:
- Miami: Lean on ACC to just figure it out. They are playing Utah OOC but that’s unlikely to be a ranked matchup post whittingham.
- Washington - open spot
- Ole Miss - open spot but tough SEC slate
- Texas Tech - I’d hate this but have to think they’d be for it
 

MeanGreenBeans

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USC has a (on paper) manageable 2027 and one spot available. I think they have too much pride to reschedule us so quick as optically
It looks like they just wanted an out for their tough 2026 ( which would be 100% correct). But that’s the path of least resistance to a marquee, top 25, game.

Other options:
- Miami: Lean on ACC to just figure it out. They are playing Utah OOC but that’s unlikely to be a ranked matchup post whittingham.
- Washington - open spot
- Ole Miss - open spot but tough SEC slate
- Texas Tech - I’d hate this but have to think they’d be for it
I'd love the first 3 there. Not so much on Texas Tech, but it would be nice to kick their ass and shut their coach up. Our games against Washington haven't always been competitive, but I still enjoyed them. They put up a good fight in 1995 at their place and again in 2009 @ ND. Plus it seems like that state has been putting out more D1 talent lately. And who doesn't like the setting at Husky Stadium.
 

Dale

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I think ND could handle another 2027 Top 15 game regardless, but if Carr declares I don’t think this schedule is gonna age as that bad. If Carr comes back it’s a cupcake.

Auburn, MSU, & Va Tech will all be in Year 2. Somewhat likely 1 or 2 of those end up being teams that flirt with being ranked at minimum. Duke or Georgia Tech will also likely flirt with being ranked. BYU will be ranked.

In the end the schedule will age as well as Clemson does. @ Clemson was certainly planned to be the 2027 equivalent of @ Miami.

IMO the 2027 schedule will have a much higher floor of teams but lower ceiling.
 
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