Notre Dame has to join a conference going forward

#2
#2
There is no incentive for Notre Dame to join a conference. Starting in 2026 if they are in the top 12, they are in the playoffs and can't be left out. Why would they join?
 
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#5
#5
volfan102455 said:
There is no incentive for Notre Dame to join a conference. Starting in 2026 if they are in the top 12, they are in the playoffs and can't be left out. Why would they join?
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The ACC can simply pull their teams from giving Notre Dame P4 opponents to play. Notre Dame being the ACC also elevates that conference.

If the P4 conferences decided to collude against them and not allow any of their teams to schedule them, all they can do is play 12 G5 schools. That’s not getting them into the playoff.
 
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#7
#7
JMSqb11 said:
The ACC can simply pull their teams from giving Notre Dame P4 opponents to play. Notre Dame being the ACC also elevates that conference.
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But will the ACC or B1G do that - those are the conferences where they look to schedule games from. I don't think they will, everyone wants the dollars.
 
#8
#8
volfan102455 said:
There is no incentive for Notre Dame to join a conference. Starting in 2026 if they are in the top 12, they are in the playoffs and can't be left out. Why would they join?
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Because if future CFP Committee's grow a pair like this one did, ND is going to have to play a "conference" schedule comparable to what the B10 and SEC play.

The fact that a 10-2 ND team declined to play in a bowl game tells you how deep the butthurt really is in South Bend. This is a Pete Buttigieg level of butt hurt.

:cool:

(yeah, no way the Mods let that one stand...)
 
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#9
#9
ND will play just enough teams to get a ranking and then opt out for games they know they can win. Their goal is just to be ranked #12 in that last poll, which they can do on name alone if they are 10-2 or better.
 
#12
#12
newyorkvol said:
Is the 2026 selection deal done? I thought negotiations got extended to 1/23/2026
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Not sure but the article which said ND declined the bowl bid seemed to indicate that the ND agreement was a done deal for 2026. I think it preceded the current negotiations.

Some feel this will force the field to 14 teams or more.
 
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#19
#19
Visidog said:
I hate this stupid playoff. ND being an independent is CFB tradition. The playoff has killed conference championships and bowl games. It’s diminishing the regular season. Rivalries are afterthoughts. It sacrifices everything that makes the sport great. I hate it.
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Independent or not, they have to play a schedule that warrants their ranking and not be treated special. The deal of them being in if they are in the top 12 is just wrong given the way it works.
 
#22
#22
Visidog said:
I hate this stupid playoff. ND being an independent is CFB tradition. The playoff has killed conference championships and bowl games. It’s diminishing the regular season. Rivalries are afterthoughts. It sacrifices everything that makes the sport great. I hate it.
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I hear you. To me it is because you have folks wanting it to be "who they believe is the best 12" and not let it be a championship involving champions. Teams don't need to win their conferences anymore. And you are better off if you don't play in them.
 
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#23
#23
volfan102455 said:
I hear you. To me it is because you have folks wanting it to be "who they believe is the best 12" and not let it be a championship involving champions. Teams don't need to win their conferences anymore. And you are better off if you don't play in them.
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The conference title games turned meaningless when they expanded the playoff. For almost 10 years, you had a 5 conferences and a G5 playing for 4 spots. It was beautiful. They expanded by too much. A 3 loss team shouldn’t be in contention for a playoff spot. Should have expanded to 6 with byes or 8 and no byes. 10-12 team playoff neutered conference title games
 
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#24
#24
volfan102455 said:
Independent or not, they have to play a schedule that warrants their ranking and not be treated special. The deal of them being in if they are in the top 12 is just wrong given the way it works.
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That's absolutely how it should work. If they are ranked in the top 12 then they should be in. The same goes for every other team ranked in the top 12.
 
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#25
#25
JMSqb11 said:
The conference title games turned meaningless when they expanded the playoff. For almost 10 years, you had a 5 conferences and a G5 playing for 4 spots. It was beautiful. They expanded by too much. A 3 loss team shouldn’t be in contention for a playoff spot. Should have expanded to 6 with byes or 8 and no byes. 10-12 team playoff neutered conference title games
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Originally, they wanted a way to get all of the P5 teams in the mix and also satisfy a G5 team that was undefeated and maybe good. Then the conferences expanded, and it became P4 and the G5. They could easily now connect back to the championship games for the P4 conferences .... yes, make the teams win their conference, give the top 2 a bye and have two teams at large - one for a G5 Team and one for the top ranked team that did not win their championship. That allows an independent like ND a spot.

Folks would still argue but at least the selection is objective and pushes the conference championship games back to the forefront.

Does it end up with the teams that folks may think are the best - no - but it does put the value back on a team winning their conference.

If they did that this year the following would be in as conference champs - and NO ONE would like it at all.

- Indiana
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Duke

And this would be the other two teams.
- Tulane (G5)
- Ohio State (highest rank)

The bowl games then have good matchups again and championship games matter. You could probably add two more and still ensure you got the "best" when you had a Duke happen.

But my bet is that rather than backing up we will go to 14 or 16 next year - making this worse rather than better. Now teams are trying to avoid a 4 loss as 3 loss teams will get in.
 
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