Notre Dame 2025

[23andCounting]

24 minutes ago, Footballking16 said:

Tulane earned the right to get blown out, big difference.

 

This really isn't even about Tulane, James Madison, or Miami. Alabama, ESPN, and CFPS is the problem here. Bama didn't earn they're right. Sure they upset Georgia earlier in the season. But then the Bulldogs woke up and manhandled the Tide when it mattered. Couple that with an embarrassing loss to FSU, the real embarrassment here is Alabama. 

Notre Dame is a muffled snap and a miracle catch by a Miami player from an undefeated season and a #1 or #2 seed. How close is any other team in the field to a #1 seed? Ohio State, sure. 

[Irishman]

10 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

I couldn't agree more. There needs to be a Group of Five champion, just like there is a D1, D2, D3, and NAIA champion. The Group of Five are the only programs with NO chance to ever be called champions. So why waste two spots in the field when a legitimate title contender like Notre Dame is sitting at home. Eight million pissed off fans plus the millions out there who are objective, so that we can watch Tulane and James Madison get curb stomped. 

To clarify….something I actually learned, the Group of Five is simply the highest ranked five conference champions get in the playoff. I admit I used the think the P4 and G5 were two completely different groups, but they are not. I get what you are saying though; that there should be a level between the FCS and FBS levels. @Muda69 often brings up something similar to what soccer in Europe has as far as a system of promotion and relegation. 

[Footballking16]

16 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

I couldn't agree more. There needs to be a Group of Five champion, just like there is a D1, D2, D3, and NAIA champion. The Group of Five are the only programs with NO chance to ever be called champions. So why waste two spots in the field when a legitimate title contender like Notre Dame is sitting at home. Eight million pissed off fans plus the millions out there who are objective, so that we can watch Tulane and James Madison get curb stomped. 

The P4 conferences should form their own tournament and tell Notre Dame to pound sound. I’m here for it.

Join A Damn Conference

[23andCounting]

8 minutes ago, Irishman said:

To clarify….something I actually learned, the Group of Five is simply the highest ranked five conference champions get in the playoff. I admit I used the think the P4 and G5 were two completely different groups, but they are not. I get what you are saying though; that there should be a level between the FCS and FBS levels. @Muda69 often brings up something similar to what soccer in Europe has as far as a system of promotion and relegation. 

It's sad really. Ball State plays every year knowing they have no shot at a title. Saint Francis and Marian have a shot at a title but the Cardinals don't? This needs to be fixed. I'd LOVE to watch a tournament involving FCS teams only.

8 minutes ago, Footballking16 said:

The P4 conferences should form their own tournament and tell Notre Dame to pound sound. I’m here for it.

Join A Damn Conference

Pipe dream.

[Irishman]

5 minutes ago, Footballking16 said:

The P4 conferences should form their own tournament and tell Notre Dame to pound sound. I’m here for it.

Join A Damn Conference

I get the idea of pressuring them to join a conference. But everyone of those commissioners knows full well how far fetched that notion is. There is a fine line between pressure and collusion if it ever got to that point. If all 4 exclude them, then what conference do they join? Do you really think anyone would settle for Notre Dame in the Mountain West, AAC, MAC, or any of the other sub P4 conferences? Because if the P4 lock them out, that eliminates the chance of them joining any of those 4. 

[Footballking16]

7 minutes ago, Irishman said:

I get the idea of pressuring them to join a conference. But everyone of those commissioners knows full well how far fetched that notion is. There is a fine line between pressure and collusion if it ever got to that point. If all 4 exclude them, then what conference do they join? Do you really think anyone would settle for Notre Dame in the Mountain West, AAC, MAC, or any of the other sub P4 conferences? Because if the P4 lock them out, that eliminates the chance of them joining any of those 4. 

Who cares? They can join the MAC and play for the G5 national championship every year for all anyone is concerned. This idea that college football needs to revolve around a single team that should be given preferential treatment so they can pretend it’s still 1972 is ridiculous.

[23andCounting]

6 minutes ago, Irishman said:

I get the idea of pressuring them to join a conference. But everyone of those commissioners knows full well how far fetched that notion is. There is a fine line between pressure and collusion if it ever got to that point. If all 4 exclude them, then what conference do they join? Do you really think anyone would settle for Notre Dame in the Mountain West, AAC, MAC, or any of the other sub P4 conferences? Because if the P4 lock them out, that eliminates the chance of them joining any of those 4. 

I still don't understand why everyone cares so much. If they don't want to join a conference, why make them? I think the real issue here is that the conference championship needs to be done away with. Everyone is afraid to play that "extra" game. At the end of the day, if they don't want Notre Dame in, they don't have to let them in......like this year. So why all the fuss? Let Notre Dame do what they want to do. 

@Footballking16 is utterly irate over this. Why I don't know. His Hoosiers are sitting pretty at the moment. 

[Footballking16]

4 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

I still don't understand why everyone cares so much. If they don't want to join a conference, why make them? I think the real issue here is that the conference championship needs to be done away with. Everyone is afraid to play that "extra" game. At the end of the day, if they don't want Notre Dame in, they don't have to let them in......like this year. So why all the fuss? Let Notre Dame do what they want to do. 

@Footballking16 is utterly irate over this. Why I don't know. His Hoosiers are sitting pretty at the moment. 

Irate? Try ecstatic. Nothing pleases me more than Notre Dame fans crying for relevancy. College football passed the Domers by long ago. Hope they’re shut out completely sooner than later. Couldn’t happen to a better program either.

[23andCounting]

5 minutes ago, Footballking16 said:

Who cares? They can join the MAC and play for the G5 national championship every year for all anyone is concerned. This idea that college football needs to revolve around a single team that should be given preferential treatment so they can pretend it’s still 1972 is ridiculous.

Although Notre Dame is probably winning the whole thing next season, I really hope they are ranked #12 and Alabama is ranked #11. That would be classic. 

Questions for @Irishman. Is the Top 12 agreement based on the CFPS Top 12 or the AP Top 12? The AP will be objective. The CFPS could rank ND #13 even if they are really #1.

[23andCounting]

6 minutes ago, Footballking16 said:

Nothing pleases me more than Notre Dame fans crying for relevancy. 

Hater.

You're killing me right now. They played for a national title last year, they're better this year, and you still wanna think they're not relevant. 

It's okay to hate, just be rational in your thoughts. 

[Footballking16]

5 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Hater.

You're killing me right now. They played for a national title last year, they're better this year, and you still wanna think they're not relevant. 

It's okay to hate, just be rational in your thoughts. 

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

Edited December 13, 2025 by Footballking16

[23andCounting]

13 minutes ago, Footballking16 said:

Better luck next year.

Nicest thing you said about Notre Dame all year, thanks. 

[Irishman]

22 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Although Notre Dame is probably winning the whole thing next season, I really hope they are ranked #12 and Alabama is ranked #11. That would be classic. 

Questions for @Irishman. Is the Top 12 agreement based on the CFPS Top 12 or the AP Top 12? The AP will be objective. The CFPS could rank ND #13 even if they are really #1.

That is a possibility. But, I do think the field will be expanded to 16 teams. That makes the ND12 agreement irrelevant. 

[23andCounting]

@Footballking16

And good luck to your Hoosiers this season. Good story, good coach, good team. 

[23andCounting]

4 minutes ago, Irishman said:

That is a possibility. But, I do think the field will be expanded to 16 teams. That makes the ND12 agreement irrelevant. 

I always felt that 16 teams would water it down. But after seeing a legitimate title contender eliminated, I agree that we're on our way to 16. This hatred for Notre Dame will blow over and the best Power 4 programs will be beating down the doors to look good (win or lose) against the Irish in front of a national audience. 

[Irishman]

35 minutes ago, Footballking16 said:

Who cares? They can join the MAC and play for the G5 national championship every year for all anyone is concerned. This idea that college football needs to revolve around a single team that should be given preferential treatment so they can pretend it’s still 1972 is ridiculous.

See...your bias is really showing now. If you actually think that is something ND would settle for, then you are even far more biased than what you have shown so far. And, PLENTY of people actually do care; and no, it is not revolving around a single team. The ACC for example had a 23% sellout rate in games not involving ND. Over 90% of the games ND is involved in are sellouts. 

[Bash Riprock]

1 hour ago, Irishman said:

I get the idea of pressuring them to join a conference. But everyone of those commissioners knows full well how far fetched that notion is. There is a fine line between pressure and collusion if it ever got to that point. If all 4 exclude them, then what conference do they join? Do you really think anyone would settle for Notre Dame in the Mountain West, AAC, MAC, or any of the other sub P4 conferences? Because if the P4 lock them out, that eliminates the chance of them joining any of those 4. 

I don’t care if they don’t join a conference. I don’t think it’s right s single team has a contract with a major TV network. But don’t complain when you don’t get the quality of wins needed because your schedule is lacking, you lose your two best quality games on your schedule and you are left outside looking in. 

[Bash Riprock]

30 minutes ago, Irishman said:

See...your bias is really showing now. If you actually think that is something ND would settle for, then you are even far more biased than what you have shown so far. And, PLENTY of people actually do care; and no, it is not revolving around a single team. The ACC for example had a 23% sellout rate in games not involving ND. Over 90% of the games ND is involved in are sellouts. 

Your ACC example kind of proves the point…ND was half in half of a conference they feel is the path of least resistance. That strategy bit them this year. 

[23andCounting]

9 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

Your ACC example kind of proves the point…ND was half in half of a conference they feel is the path of least resistance. That strategy bit them this year. 

You're ties to the program are so strong you know this to be fact?

2027: Auburn and Clemson: Both strong programs when they were scheduled

2028: Texas, Auburn, Clemson, and Miami

2029: Alabama, Texas, Florida State, and Clemson

2030: Indiana, Alabama, Clemson, and Florida State

2031: Clemson, Indiana, Florida, and Miami

Everyone of those programs are one move away from being national title contenders. Is it just coincidence that the best ACC teams.......Clemson, Miami, Florida State, and Pittsburgh are the most frequent ACC visitors on ND's schedule? The agreement was five games and Notre Dame went after the best teams. When ND inked with the ACC, Clemson was the best team in the country. 

 

[Irishman]

21 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

Your ACC example kind of proves the point…ND was half in half of a conference they feel is the path of least resistance. That strategy bit them this year. 

And it paid off for them last year. My real issue is a lot of the negativity is being driven by ESPN, because they want a piece of the pie that Notre Dame gets. They are not in an ESPN conference, and don't have an ESPN contract. 

[Bash Riprock]

11 minutes ago, Irishman said:

And it paid off for them last year. My real issue is a lot of the negativity is being driven by ESPN, because they want a piece of the pie that Notre Dame gets. They are not in an ESPN conference, and don't have an ESPN contract. 

The path of least resistance did work in 2024. They played one ranked team during the regular last year #22 Army. But they only lost 1 game last year…this year they lost 2 with very little margin. Had they lost 2 games in 2024 with that very weak schedule, they most likely don’t make it either. 
 

They are a single team with an unshared NBC contract. That is a huge advantage. (Dollars, exposure, recruiting) 

Edited December 13, 2025 by Bash Riprock

[23andCounting]

14 minutes ago, Irishman said:

And it paid off for them last year. My real issue is a lot of the negativity is being driven by ESPN, because they want a piece of the pie that Notre Dame gets. They are not in an ESPN conference, and don't have an ESPN contract. 

You're being reeled in with:

"Path of least resistance" and "very weak schedule." Don't fall for it. 

[GOLDRUSH1985]

1 hour ago, 23andCounting said:

@Footballking16

And good luck to your Hoosiers this season. Good story, good coach, good team. 

WAIT what ? Is @Footballking16 a Hoosiers fan ? This explains the hate for my Irish . He's still butthurt that Notre Dame Mud Stomped his Hoosiers last year . I'm a Hoosiers fan too , only when they are not playing ND . 

[23andCounting]

7 minutes ago, GOLDRUSH1985 said:

WAIT what ? Is @Footballking16 a Hoosiers fan ? This explains the hate for my Irish . He's still butthurt that Notre Dame Mud Stomped his Hoosiers last year . I'm a Hoosiers fan too , only when they are not playing ND . 

To the Catholic Cathedral grad, Notre Dame hater's defense, his dislike for the Irish goes back years. Sounds weird, I know. 

Edited December 13, 2025 by 23andCounting

[Irishman]

I won't bite on the schedule thing. I am merely referring to whether ND is relevant or not.