Non-Conference Scheduling

[23andCounting]

None of our last three national championship teams had a non-conference game against a Power 4 program. As I stated when USC withdrew from the Notre Dame series, B1G and SEC programs feel beaten up enough going through their conference season, thereby really don't feel the need to schedule a "potential loss" non-conference game. This doesn't bode well for Notre Dame. They can thank the Lord that major programs will still schedule them for the sake of having their brand on their campus and a massive payout in the process. 

Thoughts on this? Are we going to see a downturn in inter-conference games between Power 4 programs?

[Komets2727]

On 5/8/2026 at 11:30 AM, 23andCounting said:

None of our last three national championship teams had a non-conference game against a Power 4 program. As I stated when USC withdrew from the Notre Dame series, B1G and SEC programs feel beaten up enough going through their conference season, thereby really don't feel the need to schedule a "potential loss" non-conference game. This doesn't bode well for Notre Dame. They can thank the Lord that major programs will still schedule them for the sake of having their brand on their campus and a massive payout in the process. 

Thoughts on this? Are we going to see a downturn in inter-conference games between Power 4 programs?

Not for power 4 teams playing each, but for Notre Dame being able to schedule upper tier power 4 teams. ND will always be able to schedule lower tier teams like Purdue, Michigan State, Boston College, etc… but why would upper tier teams schedule an independent? Proof will be in the pudding. 

[23andCounting]

14 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

Not for power 4 teams playing each, but for Notre Dame being able to schedule upper tier power 4 teams. ND will always be able to schedule lower tier teams like Purdue, Michigan State, Boston College, etc… but why would upper tier teams schedule an independent? Proof will be in the pudding. 

Why should anyone schedule a Top 10 opponent outside of conference? All you have to do is look at what happened to Notre Dame last year. It's no wonder the best teams are gravitating toward cupcakes for their non-conference opponents.  That tells me that the better programs in the country, USC being one of them, really have no desire to schedule the Irish. Probably doesn't matter though. An undefeated ND squad blowing through mid-tier opponents will still make the 12-team field. One loss still gets them into a 16-team field. The B1G is off their rocker with this 24 team nonsense. 

[Komets2727]

9 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

Why should anyone schedule a Top 10 opponent outside of conference? All you have to do is look at what happened to Notre Dame last year. It's no wonder the best teams are gravitating toward cupcakes for their non-conference opponents.  That tells me that the better programs in the country, USC being one of them, really have no desire to schedule the Irish. Probably doesn't matter though. An undefeated ND squad blowing through mid-tier opponents will still make the 12-team field. One loss still gets them into a 16-team field. The B1G is off their rocker with this 24 team nonsense. 

Eh, Texas vs. Ohio State is a big game this year and there are several other marquee matchups to go with it that are non-conference games. Indiana has adapted the SEC theory of a soft non-conference schedule for the next few years, Penn State, Michigan, Oregon play nobody as well. The bigger the playoff field, the more marquee non-conference games we will see

[23andCounting]

9 hours ago, Komets2727 said:

Eh, Texas vs. Ohio State is a big game this year and there are several other marquee matchups to go with it that are non-conference games. Indiana has adapted the SEC theory of a soft non-conference schedule for the next few years, Penn State, Michigan, Oregon play nobody as well. The bigger the playoff field, the more marquee non-conference games we will see

And why not play a soft non-conference schedule? None of the past three national champions played a Power 4 program in the non-conference. 

Good point with "The bigger the playoff field, the more marquee non-conference games we will see." I guess that's one reason to root for a 24 team field. I still think it makes the field watered down. But I might lean that way now that you brought up that point. With a sixteen team field, you're likely never to see another Notre Dame vs USC game. And I don't blame USC, they did what was best for them. They don't need the Irish. They can impress "the committee" based on their B1G schedule alone. But.........if it comes down to a 2-loss USC team or a 3-loss SEC team, they're in big trouble. The committee needs to go. Let the computers handle it. Or the AP and Coaches Poll. Sorry, the committee is just an embarrassment to the system. 

[Bash Riprock]

On 5/13/2026 at 12:16 PM, 23andCounting said:

Why should anyone schedule a Top 10 opponent outside of conference? All you have to do is look at what happened to Notre Dame last year. It's no wonder the best teams are gravitating toward cupcakes for their non-conference opponents.  That tells me that the better programs in the country, USC being one of them, really have no desire to schedule the Irish. Probably doesn't matter though. An undefeated ND squad blowing through mid-tier opponents will still make the 12-team field. One loss still gets them into a 16-team field. The B1G is off their rocker with this 24 team nonsense. 

I just think the BIG is doing anything they can to increase the potential of Purdue making it in.......😉

That was for Coach!!

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, Bash Riprock said:

I just think the BIG is doing anything they can to increase the potential of Purdue making it in.......😉

That was for Coach!!

I think Purdue has an insider for football and IU has an insider for basketball. IU would have been in the last two tournaments if the field was 76 then :). 

[Bash Riprock]

20 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

I think Purdue has an insider for football and IU has an insider for basketball. IU would have been in the last two tournaments if the field was 76 then :). 

IU may have been admitted to the tournament, but would have been a quick out.  Hopefully, the future is better....