If there was a true playoff, like at the lower levels of NCAA football...ND would still miss out. Only teams from the 10 conferences that have auto bids are included in the playoffs.

 

So even if the FCS is expanded to 8 or 16 teams, it will still be an invitational...which is the only way ND can get in.

 

How would they miss out? Beyond the 10 automatic bids, you fill the final six spots with at-large teams.

Yet, if ND joined a conference they wouldn’t have to worry about a system being “rigged” against them.

 

Should they have to be even now? Not if they have a better resume.

How would they miss out? Beyond the 10 automatic bids, you fill the final six spots with at-large teams.

 

Because only teams in the conferences are eligible for consideration. There would have to be an exemption made just for ND which honestly they wouldn't deserve any more than any one else.

Notre Dame TV contract is for $15,000,000 per year and they get about $5,000,000 in ACC TV money for other sports.

SEC Teams got around $40,000,000 from the SEC for their share last year.

Big Ten teams reportedly got close to $50,000,000 from their TV deals.

 

So it's not really about the money staying independent, it's more about arrogance it seems...which is fine.

 

Arrogance? :lol2:

Should they have to be even now? Not if they have a better resume.

 

True, they don't have necessarily a better resume but got in any way. What they are doing worked for them this year...just no complaining when it doesn't.

Arrogance? :lol2:

 

If it's not for financial reasons then why are they turning down more money and joining a conference? Because they are trying to hang on to some notion that they are special, better than everyone else...which would seem to be a form of arrogance. Which as I said before is fine, nothing wrong with being arrogant...it's how you project the arrogance that can rub people the wrong way.

Because only teams in the conferences are eligible for consideration. There would have to be an exemption made just for ND which honestly they wouldn't deserve any more than any one else.

 

No reason for it to be that way. The remaining 6 would be based on rankings.

True, they don't have necessarily a better resume but got in any way. What they are doing worked for them this year...just no complaining when it doesn't.

 

I'm harder on them than the haters, so I'm good.

If it's not for financial reasons then why are they turning down more money and joining a conference? Because they are trying to hang on to some notion that they are special, better than everyone else...which would seem to be a form of arrogance. Which as I said before is fine, nothing wrong with being arrogant...it's how you project the arrogance that can rub people the wrong way.

 

You have a strange take on them IMO. Perhaps they look at it like this. Conferences don't matter. The College Football Playoff Committee allowed Ohio State and Alabama to play for a crack at the National Championship. Neither team won their conference in 2015 or 2017. Maybe their view is as long as you win in the regular season against known/marquee programs, as Notre Dame has done, you’re in the discussion. That’s all that matters. Maybe they're fine with having to go undefeated. There's a difference between pride and arrogance, at least to me.

You have a strange take on them IMO. Perhaps they look at it like this. Conferences don't matter. The College Football Playoff Committee allowed Ohio State and Alabama to play for a crack at the National Championship. Neither team won their conference in 2015 or 2017. Maybe their view is as long as you win in the regular season against known/marquee programs, as Notre Dame has done, you’re in the discussion. That’s all that matters. Maybe they're fine with having to go undefeated. There's a difference between pride and arrogance, at least to me.

 

There is pride in arrogance and arrogance in pride.

Again I’m not arguing that point. I’m saying you have to work within the current system and if you don’t do things that benefit you in the current system then it’s foolish and irresponsible to your fans and players.

We can argue about what "benefits the fans" means in this context, in this case, it means that Notre Dame essentially plays in a conference already by playing 5 ACC teams each year while retaining the freedom to schedule and play name programs like Michigan, Florida State, Stanford, and USC (all which are usually good) like they did this year. Win win in their eyes.

There is pride in arrogance and arrogance in pride.

 

And losses to gain in joining a conference.

And losses to gain in joining a conference.

 

What losses, where does it hurt them?

If I’m Notre Dame, there’s no reason to even consider moving to a conference now or anytime in the foreseeable future. Regardless of being independent or in one of the power conferences, I don’t see their playoff chances improving enough either way for the change to happen. Yes, a loss on this schedule or the one next season likely takes them out of the playoff automatically. With that said, I also believe that teams of Notre Dame over the years that lost a game or more may have fared equally or worse if in the ACC, B1G, Big XII, SEC, or anywhere else. With saying that, they are in a fine and unique position as they are with nothing to gain by joining a power conference for football. Nothing could convince me any differently at the moment.

What losses, where does it hurt them?

 

What arrogance? Where are they arrogant?