Footballking16

There's a very real chance that Cathedral is back in 4A for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, assuming they don't elect to stay in 5A. I believe they need to advance to the state championship this year to accumulate enough points to remain in 5A. Cathedral hasn't played in it's enrollment based classification since 2012.

Well the narrative last week was that USC was ducking Notre Dame.

Has anyone from Notre Dame or the national media refuted this? Are we calling Riley and SC's athletic department liars?

I'd saying opting out of a game with the potential best team on your schedule next year is certainly something, especially when you were left out this year because you didn't beat anybody. Notre Dame needs SC much more than SC needs Notre Dame, whether or not the Irish are willing to admit that. Sounds like SC was trying to do them a favor.

Think Oregon is 47-3 at home in their last 50 games. Autzen is a ridiculously hard place to play. Not sure what last year has to do with this year? Alabama didn't even make the playoff last year and lost 28-7 to Georgia in the SEC championship game.

They beat Oregon 30-20 in Eugene 3 months ago and won by 27 the last time they played at the Rose Bowl. Thursday's crowd will be way more Pro-IU than Alabama. I much more worried about the team on the field than the intangibles.

I'd say beating a top 5 team on the road 2500 miles from home is a good place to start.

Hmmmm

Because the MOU that grants ND an automatic invite to the CFP if they finish in the top 12 doesn’t go into effect until next season. It had no bearing on this season or else ND would have been in.

Mendoza still a redshirt freshman and the oldest returning QB on the roster. They have to bring in someone with experience. Still think Mendoza gets two more years to start after next season.

Why did USC offer to play Notre Dame week 0 and why did Notre Dame decline if USC was hellbent on getting ND off their schedule? Losing to ND week 0 is a lot different than losing to ND in week 14. The MOU goes into effect at the start of next season, so it makes perfectly good sense why USC wanted to move the game.

Makes sense. Believe he was 2nd in the country in RPO attempts and completion % behind Mendoza last year, IU’s bread and butter.

Hometown Oregon appears to be the favorite. Strong winds suggesting TCU QB Josh Hoover will be next years signal caller. Threw for 7500 yards and 56 TD’s the last two seasons, was once an Indiana commit out of high school.

I don’t feel stupid at all, just reiterating what was said straight from the horses mouth. SC is not going to play ND because of preferential treatment given to Notre Dame that could be potentially harmful to them in the end. Kudos to them, hope more teams follow suit.

Why? In every other sport, in every other league, winning your conference/division/group grants you admission to the postseason. What’s the point of playing a regular season then? Join a conference, it’s 2025, soon to be 2026.

Why the hell would you chance that if you're USC? Or anybody for that matter? ND has their own set of rules and doesn't want to abide by anybody else's. Stop giving them the time of day.

lol

USC literally just dropped Notre Dame because of ND's agreement with the CFP. There is ZERO upside playing Notre Dame going forward. You can beat Notre Dame on the field and in the end it not matter with the new MOU going into effect. Hell, had the MOU been in effect THIS year....Miami would have been bumped from the field despite beating Notre Dame on it. It's ridiculous. https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2025-12-22/usc-notre-dame-will-not-play-football-rivalry-game-in-2026

IU and ND are scheduled to play in a few years. Hope IU takes the same path. This is totally relevant in this climate of college football.

Kudos to SC for taking a stand. There is absolutely zero reason for another P4 team to schedule Notre Dame going forward with the new MOU that goes into effect next season. Hopefully more teams follow suit.

Cignetti is not going to roll with an underclassmen at QB, no reason too. Younger Mendoza is only a R-Fr and the oldest QB on the roster set to return, he'll have his chance at some point. Will almost certainly get a proven QB here in the portal. Cig and staff have taken a transfer QB each of the last 6 seasons, 4 have won conference POY for James Madison, Rourke was 2nd team all B-10 and finished 8th in the Heisman, and obviously Mendoza just won every award possible this year.

Apathy is a real thing and most just don't understand how pathetic IU's program has been for the last half century. IU has always had fans, diehards even, but it's just really tough to make a full blown investment into a product that the administration neglected for as long as they have re: "Why should I care if the people running it don't care"? The 60 minutes clip last night shed some good light on just how far behind IU was amongst its peers even as little as two years ago.

13-0 #1 in the country. ND’s season is over, IU’s is just starting…

Have not won a title in 37 years and counting. And won’t be playing for one this year. Better luck next year.