🏈 But they didn't win their conference...

[planomateo]

Haven't seen this mentioned yet...at all.

 

[Southern Bama]

Haven't seen this mentioned yet...at all.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Rolling Tide]

Now you know ND is special!

 

[ElephantStomp]

Of course the "didnt win their conference) wasn't going to be said nor will it be brought up it's by God Notre Dame people can't trash The great Notre Dame. Watching Mike and Mike this morning about made me puke listening to all the hype and praise for Notre Dame, but Golic's son plays for Notre Dame, so I shouldn't have expected anything other than all the hype and praise, but it seems to me there has been a hell of a lot more for Notre Dame than of any other BCSNC game teams other than maybe USC during Pete's run.

The closer to the game we get the more hype and praise we are going to hear for Notre Dame. Watching ESPN at all for the next 40 plus days is probably out of the question. Other than Mark May everybody there is going to be tooting the Notre Dame horn I imagine. Unless Mark has changed his mind about the SEC winning another NC.

 

[Houndstoothpuller]

I can't wait to see and hear Lou Holtz after the game should Alabama be the one to beat them for a NC.
He is embarrassing himself, but I don't guess that's anything new.

 

[252BAMA]

There might be more of it, but it will not be any worse than December of 1952. They had me believing Syracuse invented football and Bama had never played a game.

I was a Bama "lean" back then because of Harry Gilmer. Irrevocable commitment came on 01/01/1953.

 

[cjaytch]

Other than Mark May everybody there is going to be tooting the Notre Dame horn I imagine. Unless Mark has changed his mind about the SEC winning another NC.

After Lou's nearly orgasmic gushing Saturday night, Mark said something to the effect of "The SEC champ might have something to say about that...."

I've always liked Mark. Even when he said we sucked back in the Shula years.

Has ND even played a team that is remotely as good as UF, LSU, UGA, SC, or Bama? It looks to me they have barely beaten a bunch of mediocre teams.

 

[bamaledge]

After Lou's nearly orgasmic gushing Saturday night, Mark said something to the effect of "The SEC champ might have something to say about that...."

I've always liked Mark. Even when he said we sucked back in the Shula years.

Has ND even played a team that is remotely as good as UF, LSU, UGA, SC, or Bama? It looks to me they have barely beaten a bunch of mediocre teams.

No. ND has not played any one as tough as any of our schools. I bet even Arkansas would give them a good game. The Meechigan and Mich. state people already have us kicking ND's arse. I told them we have to get by GA. first.

 

[Irish#1]

No. ND has not played any one as tough as any of our schools. I bet even Arkansas would give them a good game. The Meechigan and Mich. state people already have us kicking ND's arse. I told them we have to get by GA. first.

As you can see from my name, I'm an Irish fan. To say ND hasn't played anybody is having blinders on. Here's a pertty good article by Pat Forde that actually compares the schedules of ND, Bama & UG.

Let's say this up front: The Southeastern Conference has earned its towering superiority complex. The smugness is based on fact, the arrogance grounded in truth. The proof is in the hardware, and six consecutive crystal footballs don't lie. It is the best college football conference in the land.
But occasionally arrogance leads to blindness, or at least severe myopia. And for all the SEC elitists guaranteeing a blowout by whoever wins its league against Notre Dame in the BCS championship game, I'm here to offer an eye test.
Look at the facts, get over the regional bias and acknowledge that someone outside of Dixie might actually be good at football.
My friend Clay Travis, who runs the excellent SEC blog, "Outkick the Coverage" was the voice of SEC arrogance Sunday morning on Twitter. Quoth Clay: "Notre Dame will be destroyed by either Alabama or Georgia. Seventh best team in SEC. At best."
Let me repeat that I'm a fan of Clay's and enjoy his work, but this is ridiculous. Notre Dame may indeed lose the national title game, but I don't foresee a blowout and an Irish victory would not be an outlandish outcome (especially if the opponent is Georgia).
And anyone who believes Notre Dame would be the seventh-best team in the SEC needs to get out more.

The gist of this argument is that the Irish could not have played anywhere near the schedule of an SEC team. Unfortunately, it's completely false. Here's the reality, stacking all 12 games on the Irish ledger alongside Alabama's and Georgia's and using the Sagarin Ratings as a measuring stick:
Best opponent played: Notre Dame hosted Stanford (eighth in Sagarin), Alabama hosted Texas A&M (seventh), Georgia played Florida (fourth) at a neutral site. The Irish and Bulldogs both won close games. The Crimson Tide lost at home. Most impressive of the three: Georgia.

Second-best opponent: Notre Dame visited Oklahoma (ninth). Alabama visited LSU (11th). Georgia visited South Carolina (10th). The Irish won by 17 points, the Tide won by four in the final minute, the Bulldogs lost by four touchdowns. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Third-best opponent: Notre Dame played USC (16th) on the road, never trailed and won by nine. Alabama played Michigan (20th) at a neutral site, never trailed and won by 27. Georgia hosted Vanderbilt (29th) and won by 45. Most impressive of the three: Alabama.

Fourth-best opponent: Notre Dame played Michigan (20th) at home and won by a touchdown. Alabama played Mississippi (33rd) on the road and won by 19. Georgia hosted Mississippi (33rd) and won by 27. All three won. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Fifth-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted BYU (37th) and won by three. Alabama hosted Mississippi State (36th) and won by 31. Georgia visited Missouri (43rd) and won by 21. All three won. Most impressive of the three: Alabama.

Sixth-best opponent: Notre Dame visited Michigan State (39th) and won by 17. Alabama visited Missouri (43rd) and won by 32. Georgia visited Tennessee (54th) and won by seven. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Seventh-best opponent: Notre Dame played Miami (52nd) on a neutral field and won by 38. Alabama visited Tennessee (54th) and won by 31. Georgia hosted Georgia Tech (63rd) and won by 32. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Eighth-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted Purdue (62nd) and won by three. Alabama visited Arkansas (65th) and won by 49. Georgia visited Auburn (84th) and won by 38. Most impressive of the three: Alabama.

Ninth-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted Pittsburgh (66th) and won by three in triple overtime. Alabama hosted Western Kentucky (82nd) and won by 35. Georgia visited Kentucky (92nd) and won by five. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Tenth-best opponent: Notre Dame played Navy (73rd) at a neutral site and won by 40. Alabama hosted Auburn (84th) and won by 49. Georgia hosted Georgia Southern (99th) and won by 31. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Eleventh-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted Wake Forest (113th) and won by 38. Alabama hosted Florida Atlantic (127th) and won by 33. Georgia hosted Florida Atlantic (127th) and won by 36. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Worst opponent: Notre Dame visited Boston College (121st) and won by 15. Alabama hosted Western Carolina (204th) and won by 49. Georgia hosted Buffalo (135th) and won by 22. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.
Eight times out of 12, the Irish have had the most impressive performance when assessing comparable opponents. Notre Dame is 2-0 against the Sagarin top 10, whereas Alabama is 0-1 and Georgia is 1-1. Notre Dame is 4-0 against the Sagarin top 20, whereas Alabama is 2-1 and Georgia is 1-1.

So don't say the Irish haven't been seasoned by a schedule every bit as difficult – no, more difficult – than the SEC top dogs. And they've had far fewer games where they just had to show up to win.
Five of Georgia's 11 victories are over objectively terrible opponents – teams ranked 80th or lower nationally by Sagarin. Alabama has four victories over teams ranked 80th or lower. Notre Dame only two.
A lot of people point to the Irish vulnerability against the likes of Purdue and Pittsburgh as evidence they are Not SEC Tough. But Georgia fans who white-knuckled through scary wins over Tennessee or Kentucky – two teams so disappointing they fired their coaches – know that a good team can struggle on a given Saturday. Alabama is the only one of the three to dispatch overmatched opponents without a peep of protest.
The myth perpetuated by SEC fans is that every week is such a bloodbath, nobody from outside the league could withstand the grind. Yet in the month of November, the average Sagarin rating of Georgia's opponents was 70th. After opening against Michigan, Alabama didn't play anyone in Sagarin's top 30 for the next seven games.
Notre Dame didn't go more than three straight games without playing a Sagarin top 20 team.
It's easy to say the Irish can't match up with the SEC, not as easy to prove. The ultimate proof will be on the field Jan. 7, but until then SEC fans would be wise to tone down the towering arrogance.

 

[RollTideinGA]

As you can see from my name, I'm an Irish fan. To say ND hasn't played anybody is having blinders on. Here's a pertty good article by Pat Forde that actually compares the schedules of ND, Bama & UG.

Let's say this up front: The Southeastern Conference has earned its towering superiority complex. The smugness is based on fact, the arrogance grounded in truth. The proof is in the hardware, and six consecutive crystal footballs don't lie. It is the best college football conference in the land.
But occasionally arrogance leads to blindness, or at least severe myopia. And for all the SEC elitists guaranteeing a blowout by whoever wins its league against Notre Dame in the BCS championship game, I'm here to offer an eye test.
Look at the facts, get over the regional bias and acknowledge that someone outside of Dixie might actually be good at football.
My friend Clay Travis, who runs the excellent SEC blog, "Outkick the Coverage" was the voice of SEC arrogance Sunday morning on Twitter. Quoth Clay: "Notre Dame will be destroyed by either Alabama or Georgia. Seventh best team in SEC. At best."
Let me repeat that I'm a fan of Clay's and enjoy his work, but this is ridiculous. Notre Dame may indeed lose the national title game, but I don't foresee a blowout and an Irish victory would not be an outlandish outcome (especially if the opponent is Georgia).
And anyone who believes Notre Dame would be the seventh-best team in the SEC needs to get out more.

The gist of this argument is that the Irish could not have played anywhere near the schedule of an SEC team. Unfortunately, it's completely false. Here's the reality, stacking all 12 games on the Irish ledger alongside Alabama's and Georgia's and using the Sagarin Ratings as a measuring stick:
Best opponent played: Notre Dame hosted Stanford (eighth in Sagarin), Alabama hosted Texas A&M (seventh), Georgia played Florida (fourth) at a neutral site. The Irish and Bulldogs both won close games. The Crimson Tide lost at home. Most impressive of the three: Georgia.

Second-best opponent: Notre Dame visited Oklahoma (ninth). Alabama visited LSU (11th). Georgia visited South Carolina (10th). The Irish won by 17 points, the Tide won by four in the final minute, the Bulldogs lost by four touchdowns. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Third-best opponent: Notre Dame played USC (16th) on the road, never trailed and won by nine. Alabama played Michigan (20th) at a neutral site, never trailed and won by 27. Georgia hosted Vanderbilt (29th) and won by 45. Most impressive of the three: Alabama.

Fourth-best opponent: Notre Dame played Michigan (20th) at home and won by a touchdown. Alabama played Mississippi (33rd) on the road and won by 19. Georgia hosted Mississippi (33rd) and won by 27. All three won. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Fifth-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted BYU (37th) and won by three. Alabama hosted Mississippi State (36th) and won by 31. Georgia visited Missouri (43rd) and won by 21. All three won. Most impressive of the three: Alabama.

Sixth-best opponent: Notre Dame visited Michigan State (39th) and won by 17. Alabama visited Missouri (43rd) and won by 32. Georgia visited Tennessee (54th) and won by seven. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Seventh-best opponent: Notre Dame played Miami (52nd) on a neutral field and won by 38. Alabama visited Tennessee (54th) and won by 31. Georgia hosted Georgia Tech (63rd) and won by 32. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Eighth-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted Purdue (62nd) and won by three. Alabama visited Arkansas (65th) and won by 49. Georgia visited Auburn (84th) and won by 38. Most impressive of the three: Alabama.

Ninth-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted Pittsburgh (66th) and won by three in triple overtime. Alabama hosted Western Kentucky (82nd) and won by 35. Georgia visited Kentucky (92nd) and won by five. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Tenth-best opponent: Notre Dame played Navy (73rd) at a neutral site and won by 40. Alabama hosted Auburn (84th) and won by 49. Georgia hosted Georgia Southern (99th) and won by 31. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Eleventh-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted Wake Forest (113th) and won by 38. Alabama hosted Florida Atlantic (127th) and won by 33. Georgia hosted Florida Atlantic (127th) and won by 36. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Worst opponent: Notre Dame visited Boston College (121st) and won by 15. Alabama hosted Western Carolina (204th) and won by 49. Georgia hosted Buffalo (135th) and won by 22. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.
Eight times out of 12, the Irish have had the most impressive performance when assessing comparable opponents. Notre Dame is 2-0 against the Sagarin top 10, whereas Alabama is 0-1 and Georgia is 1-1. Notre Dame is 4-0 against the Sagarin top 20, whereas Alabama is 2-1 and Georgia is 1-1.

So don't say the Irish haven't been seasoned by a schedule every bit as difficult – no, more difficult – than the SEC top dogs. And they've had far fewer games where they just had to show up to win.
Five of Georgia's 11 victories are over objectively terrible opponents – teams ranked 80th or lower nationally by Sagarin. Alabama has four victories over teams ranked 80th or lower. Notre Dame only two.
A lot of people point to the Irish vulnerability against the likes of Purdue and Pittsburgh as evidence they are Not SEC Tough. But Georgia fans who white-knuckled through scary wins over Tennessee or Kentucky – two teams so disappointing they fired their coaches – know that a good team can struggle on a given Saturday. Alabama is the only one of the three to dispatch overmatched opponents without a peep of protest.
The myth perpetuated by SEC fans is that every week is such a bloodbath, nobody from outside the league could withstand the grind. Yet in the month of November, the average Sagarin rating of Georgia's opponents was 70th. After opening against Michigan, Alabama didn't play anyone in Sagarin's top 30 for the next seven games.
Notre Dame didn't go more than three straight games without playing a Sagarin top 20 team.
It's easy to say the Irish can't match up with the SEC, not as easy to prove. The ultimate proof will be on the field Jan. 7, but until then SEC fans would be wise to tone down the towering arrogance.

I see no ND bias in his review of the season. :icon_eek:

 

[planomateo]

Perhaps you can provide some insight on why ND won't join a real conference to play football...the ACC isn't exactly swinging for the fences is it. But then again, you were in the Big East before...

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

I don't have any problems Irish's retort. ND has played some good teams now that the dust has settled during the regular season. Those Sagarin ratings will change a little bit after the SEC game but I still think their competition at this point has turned out to be better.

I think ND is a quality defense team & their offense better make big strides during December to make the game competitive. I think their D is on par w/ LSU with their front 7. But the biggest reason they were not blowing out folks is because of their developing offense.

Also, I think CNS will have a great gameplan ready for ND provided a 35 day preparation time. That is my biggest confidence point.

 

[Irish#1]

There may be some bias there, but you have to be honest as well. ND didn't play anyone near the level of Western Carolina, Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky. I'm rooting for you guys to win the SEC title game, because a Notre Dame / Alabama NCG would be the most watched football game ever. I don't know if ND will win, but if they do, I don't want anyone to say they didn't play the best.

One of my favorite games was the 73 Sugar Bowl. Ara & Bear in Tulane Stadium. EPIC.

 

[Irish#1]

Perhaps you can provide some insight on why ND won't join a real conference to play football...the ACC isn't exactly swinging for the fences is it. But then again, you were in the Big East before...

Be glad to. Actually ND tried to join the Western Conference (now the B1G) years ago but was turned down because of the power and campaigning done by Fielding Yost. Fielding Yost, the son of a confederate soldier and a member of the KKK was Michigan's coach. He hated ND because it was a Catholic University. Michigan played ND for about 10 years until Notre Dame beat them. Then he dropped ND from the schedule. As ND tried to pick up other schools to play Yost would intervene with some political clout he had thru the midwest. Hence, ND was forced to start looking for schools to play outside of the midwest and that's how the national schedule came to be. From that, ND has tried to maintain the national schedule and welcome all comers. That's why they have never joined a conference for football. There are the regulars on th eschedule, but every year there are 4-5 games with new opponents that keep things exciting. Given the changing landscape, it may not be too far off when ND will have to join a conference for football. With Maryland and Rutgers joining the B1G, there are rumors of Florida St. and Clemson wanting to leave the ACC as well as North Carolina and Virginia. I honestly don't think joining a conference would make ND's schedule anymore difficult than it already is. Every team on the schedule has ND circled on the schedule, so every game ND plays they usually get the opposing teams best shot.

 

[TerryP]

What Irish posted here was an article by Pat Forde.

Forde has always been sound with what he writes. I don't recall anything he's put out I'd call biased by any means.

Using Sagarin, he's made his point. I read the article when it came out and had no issues with what he said.

I see no ND bias in his review of the season. :icon_eek:

As you can see from my name, I'm an Irish fan. To say ND hasn't played anybody is having blinders on. Here's a pertty good article by Pat Forde that actually compares the schedules of ND, Bama & UG.

Let's say this up front: The Southeastern Conference has earned its towering superiority complex. The smugness is based on fact, the arrogance grounded in truth. The proof is in the hardware, and six consecutive crystal footballs don't lie. It is the best college football conference in the land.
But occasionally arrogance leads to blindness, or at least severe myopia. And for all the SEC elitists guaranteeing a blowout by whoever wins its league against Notre Dame in the BCS championship game, I'm here to offer an eye test.
Look at the facts, get over the regional bias and acknowledge that someone outside of Dixie might actually be good at football.
My friend Clay Travis, who runs the excellent SEC blog, "Outkick the Coverage" was the voice of SEC arrogance Sunday morning on Twitter. Quoth Clay: "Notre Dame will be destroyed by either Alabama or Georgia. Seventh best team in SEC. At best."
Let me repeat that I'm a fan of Clay's and enjoy his work, but this is ridiculous. Notre Dame may indeed lose the national title game, but I don't foresee a blowout and an Irish victory would not be an outlandish outcome (especially if the opponent is Georgia).
And anyone who believes Notre Dame would be the seventh-best team in the SEC needs to get out more.

The gist of this argument is that the Irish could not have played anywhere near the schedule of an SEC team. Unfortunately, it's completely false. Here's the reality, stacking all 12 games on the Irish ledger alongside Alabama's and Georgia's and using the Sagarin Ratings as a measuring stick:
Best opponent played: Notre Dame hosted Stanford (eighth in Sagarin), Alabama hosted Texas A&M (seventh), Georgia played Florida (fourth) at a neutral site. The Irish and Bulldogs both won close games. The Crimson Tide lost at home. Most impressive of the three: Georgia.

Second-best opponent: Notre Dame visited Oklahoma (ninth). Alabama visited LSU (11th). Georgia visited South Carolina (10th). The Irish won by 17 points, the Tide won by four in the final minute, the Bulldogs lost by four touchdowns. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Third-best opponent: Notre Dame played USC (16th) on the road, never trailed and won by nine. Alabama played Michigan (20th) at a neutral site, never trailed and won by 27. Georgia hosted Vanderbilt (29th) and won by 45. Most impressive of the three: Alabama.

Fourth-best opponent: Notre Dame played Michigan (20th) at home and won by a touchdown. Alabama played Mississippi (33rd) on the road and won by 19. Georgia hosted Mississippi (33rd) and won by 27. All three won. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Fifth-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted BYU (37th) and won by three. Alabama hosted Mississippi State (36th) and won by 31. Georgia visited Missouri (43rd) and won by 21. All three won. Most impressive of the three: Alabama.

Sixth-best opponent: Notre Dame visited Michigan State (39th) and won by 17. Alabama visited Missouri (43rd) and won by 32. Georgia visited Tennessee (54th) and won by seven. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Seventh-best opponent: Notre Dame played Miami (52nd) on a neutral field and won by 38. Alabama visited Tennessee (54th) and won by 31. Georgia hosted Georgia Tech (63rd) and won by 32. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Eighth-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted Purdue (62nd) and won by three. Alabama visited Arkansas (65th) and won by 49. Georgia visited Auburn (84th) and won by 38. Most impressive of the three: Alabama.

Ninth-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted Pittsburgh (66th) and won by three in triple overtime. Alabama hosted Western Kentucky (82nd) and won by 35. Georgia visited Kentucky (92nd) and won by five. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Tenth-best opponent: Notre Dame played Navy (73rd) at a neutral site and won by 40. Alabama hosted Auburn (84th) and won by 49. Georgia hosted Georgia Southern (99th) and won by 31. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Eleventh-best opponent: Notre Dame hosted Wake Forest (113th) and won by 38. Alabama hosted Florida Atlantic (127th) and won by 33. Georgia hosted Florida Atlantic (127th) and won by 36. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.

Worst opponent: Notre Dame visited Boston College (121st) and won by 15. Alabama hosted Western Carolina (204th) and won by 49. Georgia hosted Buffalo (135th) and won by 22. Most impressive of the three: Notre Dame.
Eight times out of 12, the Irish have had the most impressive performance when assessing comparable opponents. Notre Dame is 2-0 against the Sagarin top 10, whereas Alabama is 0-1 and Georgia is 1-1. Notre Dame is 4-0 against the Sagarin top 20, whereas Alabama is 2-1 and Georgia is 1-1.

So don't say the Irish haven't been seasoned by a schedule every bit as difficult – no, more difficult – than the SEC top dogs. And they've had far fewer games where they just had to show up to win.
Five of Georgia's 11 victories are over objectively terrible opponents – teams ranked 80th or lower nationally by Sagarin. Alabama has four victories over teams ranked 80th or lower. Notre Dame only two.
A lot of people point to the Irish vulnerability against the likes of Purdue and Pittsburgh as evidence they are Not SEC Tough. But Georgia fans who white-knuckled through scary wins over Tennessee or Kentucky – two teams so disappointing they fired their coaches – know that a good team can struggle on a given Saturday. Alabama is the only one of the three to dispatch overmatched opponents without a peep of protest.
The myth perpetuated by SEC fans is that every week is such a bloodbath, nobody from outside the league could withstand the grind. Yet in the month of November, the average Sagarin rating of Georgia's opponents was 70th. After opening against Michigan, Alabama didn't play anyone in Sagarin's top 30 for the next seven games.
Notre Dame didn't go more than three straight games without playing a Sagarin top 20 team.
It's easy to say the Irish can't match up with the SEC, not as easy to prove. The ultimate proof will be on the field Jan. 7, but until then SEC fans would be wise to tone down the towering arrogance.

 

[TerryP]

Going back to the subject at hand, conference champions.

We heard time after time conference champs needed to be a main ingredient in the playoff. Right now, we are looking at SECCG winner, Irish, Oregon, and Florida.

ONE conference champ among the four teams.

Does Kansas State have an argument to be included at #5?

FWIW, since they will be invitations, if you look at #6 they have no argument. LSU has lost to two the teams that would be in that playoff.

 

[planomateo]

Be glad to. Actually ND tried to join the Western Conference (now the B1G) years ago but was turned down because of the power and campaigning done by Fielding Yost. Fielding Yost, the son of a confederate soldier and a member of the KKK was Michigan's coach. He hated ND because it was a Catholic University. Michigan played ND for about 10 years until Notre Dame beat them. Then he dropped ND from the schedule. As ND tried to pick up other schools to play Yost would intervene with some political clout he had thru the midwest. Hence, ND was forced to start looking for schools to play outside of the midwest and that's how the national schedule came to be. From that, ND has tried to maintain the national schedule and welcome all comers. That's why they have never joined a conference for football. There are the regulars on th eschedule, but every year there are 4-5 games with new opponents that keep things exciting. Given the changing landscape, it may not be too far off when ND will have to join a conference for football. With Maryland and Rutgers joining the B1G, there are rumors of Florida St. and Clemson wanting to leave the ACC as well as North Carolina and Virginia. I honestly don't think joining a conference would make ND's schedule anymore difficult than it already is. Every team on the schedule has ND circled on the schedule, so every game ND plays they usually get the opposing teams best shot.

You could make this same point for at least 10 other schools, more like 20+ other schools. In fact, I'd say that ND was the one circling teams on their schedule the last decade

Yost from the the 1920's...is that relevant now? I had to go look him up - 3 generations ago for me and I'm almost 40. I would imagine that Notre Dame has had plenty of opportunities to play in a conference and keep some of those big games - USC, Stanford, etc if it really wanted to. I'd have no problem if I was in another league and you wanted to play your league games (like everyone else) and then sprinkle in a few of the national teams into the schedule.

What I do like about a few other the other schools in the FBS they rarely if at all schedule a FCS school. I don't like Alabama playing FCS schools, I'd like to see us play 9 conf games plus an AQ OOC game (Michigan, VaTech, USC, ND, etc).

I think ND is alot like Alabama, the team everyone likes to hate. I hope its a Notre Dame vs Alabama NC game, my buddy during my time in the service was a HUGE Notre Dame fan - would give us a reason to hang out in Miami together this year.

 

[planomateo]

Going back to the subject at hand, conference champions.

We heard time after time conference champs needed to be a main ingredient in the playoff. Right now, we are looking at SECCG winner, Irish, Oregon, and Florida.

ONE conference champ among the four teams.

Does Kansas State have an argument to be included at #5?

FWIW, since they will be invitations, if you look at #6 they have no argument. LSU has lost to two the teams that would be in that playoff.

Had their loss to Baylor been close, sure. But....

 

[TerryP]

There's only one thing I have to say about ND's schedule this season. I didn't believe they were a good enough team to make it through the season undefeated; hell, even hit the nine win mark for that matter.

They have and even though it hasn't been pretty they are 12-0. We've seen our own share of teams that won ugly, but won.

 

[Irish#1]

There's only one thing I have to say about ND's schedule this season. I didn't believe they were a good enough team to make it through the season undefeated; hell, even hit the nine win mark for that matter.

They have and even though it hasn't been pretty they are 12-0. We've seen our own share of teams that won ugly, but won.

Most Irish fans thought we would have three or four losses this year because of the schedule. I thought three losses myself. As an Bama fan I would think most could appreciate how ND has won this year. Rather than thinking of it as winning ugly, I like to think of it as causing teams to lose ugly.