Bring back Notre Dame more often?
I know Warde/Harbaugh have gotten heat here for bending over backwards to accomodate ND, but is it so bad that they fight to keep ND on the schedule?
I've previously been Team To-Hell-With-Notre-Dame, but there have been very few Michigan Football things that felt as good as the win over them this year, and I'm sure they felt the same about last year. A win over ND would definitely feel better than a random non-conference team.
If making the CFP is a challenge anyway given the OSU Death Star pointed directly at Ann Arbor, why not try and schedule ND more often? I understand that the ball is probably in ND's court more than Michigan's. It's a traditional rivalry that is decidedly more evenly matched, and just an opportunity for the fans and team to feel good about themselves with a win.
Anyways, neg away if you feel this is another #SnowflakeTake. I'll hang up and listen.
December 5th, 2019 at 9:51 PM ^
Michigan needs to not only play Notre Dame but should play 2 more power conference schools in non conference.
Michigan needs to think outside the box and do things that help bring attention to the program. Be the first school to announce a power 5 only schedule. Mock other schools for playing nobody.
Just by playing in all power 5 schedule it would increase the likelihood of making the playoff even with a loss to Ohio State. A 1 loss program with 11 power 5 wins would be a difficult program to keep out of the playoff. Not every school has to be a powerhouse. Choose middle of the road Power 5 programs and one team that you believe you can beat that can still finish in the top 25.
December 6th, 2019 at 8:53 AM ^
Only in the clearly uniformed mind is your view valid. The physical and mental/emotional toll of playing this game has limits which will eliminate you from achieving what you are saying the goal is. Alabama, Clemson and OSU schedule as they do for a purpose and reason...and even Alabama got eliminated this year.
December 6th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^
Harbaugh has already bought a lot of attention to the program, they don't need really need ND for that. Rotating ND out with other teams like Washington is definitely better.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:13 PM ^
Notre Dame is a pretty fun opponent but the current system doesn't really reward us for playing them...so...shrug?
December 5th, 2019 at 5:54 PM ^
I know this is the general consensus of people. But, if either OU or Utah had a quality non-conference win on their resume (ND), there wouldn't really be a discussion between the two if they both win this weekend.
When OSU got in over PSU in 2016, that was certainly in part because of their non-conference win over OU.
I understand the downside is a lot higher with a loss, but I don't totally buy the argument.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:13 PM ^
No. I like beating ND almost as much as OSU, but until the playoff is expanded we should only be playing directional schools in the OOC schedule.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:47 PM ^
Losing to ND last year didn't keep us out of the playoff - we were right in the picture until the OSU loss. A week 1 or 2 game isn't going to hurt you that much if you lose, and if you win, it's good for your resume.
December 5th, 2019 at 3:09 PM ^
Counter point...if UM beats up on Central Michigan instead of losing that game, UM and OSU is a matchup of #2 vs #10 matchup and UM has a chance to get into the CFP as the strongest one loss team in the field over Alabama. Getting rolled by 20+ in Columbus probably ends that, but still a better opportunity. If they do get in, then who knows what could have happened...
December 5th, 2019 at 3:26 PM ^
Counter-counter point: playing CMU is boring. I like interesting games.
December 5th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
How many interesting games do you want. The big ten schedule gets around 5 maybe 6 depending on crossovers a year.
OSU, PSU, MSU are going to be interesting every year.
Indiana can be interesting half the time.
Then you will probably get one of Wisconsin or Iowa.
Minnesota, Nebraska, and Northwestern can be interesting in the right years.
December 5th, 2019 at 4:13 PM ^
ND is more interesting than most of our Big Ten opponents. A lot of conference games are meh. I frankly don't blame ND for not joining this conference. Every week, the MGoPodcast makes fun of how unwatchable most Big Ten football games are, and they're correct.
ND has been a great series. It's a sad statement about college football that it's apparently hard to keep it going.
December 5th, 2019 at 5:17 PM ^
How many interesting games do you want.
For seventy-five, a hundred bucks a ticket? Just about every one. If they make cupcake games half-price, then maybe we could be OK with a few of those a year.
December 6th, 2019 at 1:21 AM ^
once you factor in the "donation", my avg ticket price is almost $300 per game. so ya, i would rather play a notre dame than a direction school.
December 5th, 2019 at 3:57 PM ^
What is more interesting than a playoff game? Playing cupcakes gets us closer to that goal.
December 5th, 2019 at 4:15 PM ^
I expect us to beat ND 50% or more of the time - I'm not sure why some of you seem to think it's an expected loss.
And again, I don't know of too many teams that were eliminated from national title contention because of a loss at the beginning of the year.
December 5th, 2019 at 5:50 PM ^
We got beat bad last year...so the media and committee would’ve just said we were a paper champion who got exposed when they faced a good team
December 6th, 2019 at 9:07 AM ^
OSU didn't get in as a 1 loss Big Ten champ. The only situation in which we could've been viewed as the strongest 1 loss team is with a quality non-conference win - if we beat ND. Similar to OSU with their win over OU in 2016.
I'll concede that last year was among the stronger playoff classes.
December 6th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
You're not wrong in any way. If we'd beaten ND, OSU would've probably gotten into the playoff instead of OSU.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:16 PM ^
Yes, as long as it's at home and during monsoon season.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:17 PM ^
I'm with ya. A younger me wanted only cupcakes that Michigan could blowout by 50, but as I've gotten older I don't see a point in games where one team is completely overmatched.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:22 PM ^
This is where I'm at as well. This is about entertainment and going to a ND game is a blast and both schools care. They're just as much of a brand and their alumni are everywhere too.
Until the NCAA amateurism model completely collapses or UM gets on board with paying under the table, UM's not likely to make the playoffs anyway. ND-UM is what college football is all about.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:48 PM ^
*something something Ohio State cancelling the Michigan series*
*ducks*
December 5th, 2019 at 2:53 PM ^
That's not the only alternative to scheduling ND. Home-and-home series against a variety of other prominent schools can be attractive. Scheduling ND regularly forecloses that possibility.
December 5th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
Good point, and I'd be completely in favor of scheduling other teams that are roughly on the Notre Dame / Michigan level.
December 5th, 2019 at 4:38 PM ^
A home and home with a Power 5 school with a strong Michigan alumni base in the area would be great for fans, recruiting, and exposure. Something like UCLA...
December 5th, 2019 at 2:18 PM ^
We can beat them right? In that case just replace osu with them.
/s
December 5th, 2019 at 2:18 PM ^
We should leave the Big Ten, become an Independent, and schedule our way into the CFP.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
That sounds good. Until you realize that we'll still schedule OSU every year for rivalry week.
December 5th, 2019 at 3:01 PM ^
Or, join the big 12.
Oh, something, Hook em.? I’m doing this right ?
December 5th, 2019 at 2:23 PM ^
I've always been pro having ND on the schedule. The only people who aren't for it are worried about potential losses and want that game replaced with an easy win.
Screw that. Win em all.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:24 PM ^
I traveled up to the ND game this year because I hoped it was the last time we played them for a few years. As said upthread, there's no reason to play them under the current system. More MACTION, pls. Hell, play Central or Western on the road and work our preseason logistics a bit. At least those games would benefit our state schools and give us a good look at possible grad transfers.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:29 PM ^
We have enough rivalry games on the schedule with OSU, MSU, and obviously Rutger. We don't need to play a 4th regularly.
/s
December 5th, 2019 at 2:41 PM ^
We should move to the Western Division so we can play our rivals, Minnesota and Illinois every year. At least they aren’t scandal plagued like our Eastern Division rivals.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:33 PM ^
Fuck no!
December 5th, 2019 at 2:36 PM ^
No. Michigan completely embarrassed them. I love it that they have to live with that for over 10 years.
December 5th, 2019 at 3:09 PM ^
Yep, I agree, let them stew on that for over 10 years.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:41 PM ^
Why so we can guarantee ourselves ~1 loss every other year?
Our conference schedule is hard enough, we need 3 gimme wins in the non conference.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^
I am very much in favor of playing ND. It's a great series. Think of all the memorable games we've had.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:43 PM ^
It makes no sense to play games like ND or anyone with a pulse. The conference schedule is hard enough. Look at Clemson (Texas A&M wasn't great) and what some of the SEC schools play out of conference. The most important thing is winning games.
December 5th, 2019 at 6:07 PM ^
Texas A&M was #12 in the preseason. LSU played Texas, Georgia played ND. Florida played Miami and FSU, Auburn played Oregon. This notion that top SEC schools are avoiding tough competition is silly. Bama played Duke this year but they usually schedule a good opponent in their first game. Only team that regularly scheduled cupcakes is Baylor...and possibly for the 2nd time in in the CFP era they will be left out the playoff because of it.
December 6th, 2019 at 3:26 AM ^
Texas and Texas A&M both ended up with 5 losses. I bet both those fan bases are wishing they had more cupcakes. I love seeing the big non-conference games. I get so excited every year to watch them. The problem is with the way the system is, there is no incentive to take the extra risk playing a good team. Remember the SEC and ACC only play 8 conference games which means they have an extra cupcake built into their schedule. It would be a sin for them not to play at least one tough non conference opponent. I look at Clemson's schedule and I think there could be 10 undefeated teams if everyone played that schedule. I'm not saying they are bad but 8 conference games in a shit conference and their big game this year is a 5 loss Texas A&M is a joke. There is just no incentive to take the risk of having 9 Big 10 games and then a monster non conference game.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:46 PM ^
I want nothing to do with ND. If you want a beatable rival, we already got one in MSU.
Honestly, the moment those fools happily took the “ACC light” route and decided in all their wisdom that playing Navy every year is more important, they kinda indicated where they feel the “rivalry” is at. The fact we cried about it rather than getting the message made us look weak and stupid too.
Those who now ask for this game back also look weak. Like kids tired of getting beaten up by the bully in Columbus they try to seek solace by competing vs another school whose arrogant expectations seldom can be met in the real world.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:52 PM ^
College football is better when Notre Dame and Michigan play each other. But I agree with folks on this thread who say the current system doesn't reward us for playing this game.
But even if it did, the ND athletic department seems to be the one who constantly opts out, so with that in mind, ideally Michigan would fill that void the next four years with PAC opponents like Washington (check) add USC or Stanford. Or even UCLA (so we can finally play in the Rose Bowl.)
December 5th, 2019 at 2:53 PM ^
I'm just kind of tired of playing Notre Dame.
December 5th, 2019 at 2:54 PM ^
No to frequent Notre Dame. It just gets so repetative. We already have a conference where we have to play the same teams over and over. Why do the same with the non-conference schedule?
I think we should only play Notre Dame every 4 years, so each class has an opportunity to play.
During the other 3 years, if we want to play a non-cupcake, there are plenty of of other major conference opponents to choose from. I'd love to see Michigan play UCLA, LSU, Arkansas, Virginia, etc, instead.
December 5th, 2019 at 3:05 PM ^
December 5th, 2019 at 3:21 PM ^
If the playoff didn’t exist in its current format and a single loss didn’t potentially derail your chances, I’d like to schedule them in a two on four off type of format. Still get to play them and preserve a good rivalry, but I like to play other teams too. Unfortunately, consistent quality non conference schedules are not going to be a thing until the playoffs expands to 16+ teams IMO