Irishman

This is a team that looks like it just wants the season to end ASAP. I know guys are hurt, but damn; just no heart in them today. And they now are paying the heavy price of not shutting Jones down earlier in the season and letting him. They have the toughest schedule in the league remaining. Having Jones healthy would have been critical for the stretch run.

And now this: Could change some minds of programs that needs some cash. https://apnews.com/article/iowa-state-cyclones-bowl-ca4cf61945e63ffac1067f8fd29ff0ca

Notre Dame made $20 Million last year from making the playoff. $4 Million: For qualifying for the 12-team playoff. $4 Million: For advancing to the quarterfinals (a first-round home win). $6 Million: For reaching the semifinals (upsetting Georgia). $6 Million: For playing in the national championship game (losing to Ohio State) Every other program had to share what they earned with their conference. I said it before the championship last year, that the payoff for remaining independent was huge. If nothing changes, they will still be in the conversation for the next couple years as far as being a playoff team. Does missing out really provide enough impetus to joing a conference?

Nah....makes them more defiant. The change needs to happen with the Group of 5 guarantees. Tulane and James Madison have no business in this thing.

If you get your ass handed to you in that game? Yep Ask Virginia that same question

I really felt like that was the direction the B1G was heading by going west. Maybe they still are? As good as Miami, Texas A&M, Oregon, and Oklahoma did. 🙂

If it was a 2 or 3 score game, you would have a point. But it was week 1, and it was a late FG to win. Miami hurt themselves far more than Notre Dame did with the games they lost.

Fair point, but Texas also scheduled UTEP, Sam Houston, and San Jose State. Alabama scheduled Eastern Illinois and Louisiana Monroe 🙂

I think it maxes out at 16. The big takeaway last year…I remember Kirby Smart being on set during the first round, he wants a playoff home game. Football is a different animal than any other sport. A legitimate look at teams 12-16 now, and there is not a team that has a shot at making the championship game. That said, more than any other year ever, there are more teams who could make the championship game; not necessarily win it, but could make it. My issue is when you get beyond 16 teams, the health of teams playing becomes a greater factor. I hear you, but again every ranked team’s schedule can be criticized.

I think this all goes back to a point @Bobref made recently. As big as the conference championship games are, especially financially, this very well may be the last time we see them being played. Willing to bet the ACC will be the first to announce it.

I think while the Notre Dame schedule can be scrutinized, name a team whose schedule cannot be. The saying that has followed IU for two years was not only play somebody, but beat somebody good. The bar was raised every step of the way. ACC was not very good, I grant you that. But I also think the SEC is overrated and has been. Outside of maybe two teams, the rest is just meh. While people can say Notre Dame did not beat anyone of value, their two losses were by a combined 4 points….to two teams in the playoffs.

You guys are NOT going to believe this. I had THE craziest dream ever. IU fires Tom Allen, and they bring this dude in from some small school out east. Guy has a decent first year, but man the second year? Not only does the team go undefeated….crazy, right? F***ing IU undefeated, but theeeeeeennnnnn, get this shit…..beats Ohio State to win a Big Ten Championship. I should avoid late night pizza from now on. That was one crazy ass dream.

What is a bit comical and disingenuous to me is the talk around conference championship games. One year, the talk is, well this team did not play in a conference championship game and should not be rewarded for that. This year we are hearing teams that lose a conference championship should not be punished for playing in that game. Should the conference championship games matter? Absolutely, every game should be taken into consideration. A friend was trying to stir the pot with me last night about the Irish not playing in a conference championship game. I said you know who else is not playing in a conference championship game? Oregon, Miami, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma. If the goal is to get the best 12 in, the Irish belong. But so does Miami. I will even say that those two are better than at least 3 teams in the 5-8 spots in the rankings. If those two get in, I am fine saying that Alabama is one of the best 12. Winning at Georgia really is a BFD. But damn, that FSU loss is there too. No question though is whoever the G5 team(s) is/are, no I do not think they are among the best 12 in the country.

2nd losingest......Northwestern passed them this season. 🙂

Holy shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Annnnd

What Joel Klatt said though was the throw was behind the line of scrimmage, but did not say it was a backward pass, so the early contact is allowed. I am not sure of that rule, but the eye test to me says he is wrong on that one.

Defense is playing well. Penalties have hurt them, but they are giving themselves a chance.

Watching the B1G Pregame, and all 4 guys on set all say Bama is out and SHOULD be out, including Mark Ingraham. They are all also saying Notre Dame and Miami are in.

RIGHT!!!! Getting tired of the clowns doing the game trying to plead the case for them getting in. And then they are trying to build up the conference as a whole being that tough.

Alabama has left the chat

Not entirely true. The Bowl Coalition was in its 2nd year and tried getting 1-2 matchups in a rotating bowl that would serve as the championship game, along with the other highest ranked teams. FSU was ranked 1st in the AP and 3rd in the coaches' poll. Nebraska was ranked 2nd in the AP and 1st in the coaches' poll. So FSU and Nebraska were matched up in the Orange Bowl, the designated championship game for that season. Interestingly, the team that got screwed just as much as the Irish was West Virginia. They were ranked 2nd, ahead of FSU in the coaches' poll. After the bowls were done, FSU was ranked 1st with Notre Dame ranked 2nd.

I was close....$30 Million https://x.com/Matt_Fortuna/status/1997102540479959534?s=20

I agree that they will struggle. For how long? Not sure. I do think Cignetti is a great coach, but even he has relied Cignificantly on the portal. He had a really good thing going at JMU and it has really helped him at IU. But this is the part that is unsustainable. Let's say Penn State hits the portal hard and spends a good $40 Million to get a solid roster and become a competitive team right away. Now the next teams in their spot will have to spend more.