OT: Does Notre Dame Finally Pay for Eschewing Conferences?
Here was Notre Dame's schedule for this year pre-Covid-19:
Navy (in Ireland)
Arkansas
Western Michigan
Wake Forest
Wisconsin
Stanford
Pittsburgh
Duke
Clemson
G. Tech
Louisville
USC
The Wisconsin, Stanford and USC games are gone now, given that those conferences have decided to play only conference games. The Navy game in Ireland has been postponed. It might go ahead elsewhere on another date, but let's assume it too is just cancelled. Let's also assume that the SEC and the MAC go to "only conference games" schedules, which is hardly a stretch. By my count, that would leave ND with only 6 games with ACC teams - Wake Forest, Pitt, Duke, Clemson, G. Tech, and Louisville. Wake is a neutral site game (though in NC), Pitt is away, and G. Tech is away. That leaves three home games - one against Clemson (ouch) - and all three home games come October 31 or later. If the season is going to start and then get cancelled, one would assume it happens sometime around late October.
Conclusion: It is pretty easy to envision ND's reluctance to join a conference leaving them with only 6 games total and 3 home games, and then having them play only 3 or 4 games - and none or only one home game - before the season is ended early. I would have to imagine that would lead to huge losses for the program from home stadium revenue. They might entice some smaller teams to come to South Bend earlier in the year for a few additional home games, but I have to imagine they'd have to throw lots of extra money at those teams, if they can even find any.
Not likely.
Touché
I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone goes to conference-only, but the ACC would probably just include Notre Dame like a full member for the season, so I don’t think they’d be hurt much by the change.
That's a lot of time on the bus. Good.
Decent chance they use that leverage to try and force their hand into agreeing to join- why should the ACC give them the perks without the commitment?
Because the ACC already has a good thing going on with the 6 ACC games with Notre Dame. Both are benefiting in this agreement.
If the ACC threatens ND to join or leave, plenty of teams around the country will step up to schedule games with Notre Dame.
ND will just buy their way to a complete season, although the ACC will likely just give them more games to make up some that they lost.
This assumes CFB actually happens.
This is what I am assuming as well. That will cost lots of $$$ though. It's probably moot, as most teams will only get a few games into the year before Wave Two(TM) comes and ends the season...
They'll get just the Navy game and go 1-0 and be invited to the playoff for winning all their games
I was just talking with my imaginary girlfriend about this.
Wait, so the pony conqueror has more than 1 account???
This meme still makes me laugh...
To Hell with Notre Dame.
Correct answer!
Oh snap.
Any new news on the front?
What home stadium revenue?
This is exactly right. There are not going to be fans at these games, so home stadium revenue is gone for everyone. I doubt the MAC cancels out of conference, if they play. However, the MAC canceling games would be a plus for ND, having to pay those teams a big chunk of money to play and not get the stadium revenue is a double whammy.
Although I hate to say it, NBC will do whatever it takes to subsidize ND's season. They need sports content on football Saturdays.
The CFB season is going to get blown up anyway, if it even gets off the ground in September.
ND will be fine. The ACC has guaranteed them extra games already. They play 5 ACC games during the current agreement. Swofford is protecting them now that USC and Stanford are off their schedule.
Nah I doubt it. They’re already contractually slated for 5-6 ACC games per year. If the ACC goes the route of the B1G and only plays conference games, whichever teams ND wasn’t already playing will be happy to play them. By the time the 2021 season rolls around, I’d bet everything is mostly back to normal.
Was just listening to an ND podcast this AM and they feel that the ACC will do what they have to for ND because “ND is sooooo valuable to the ACC”.
What that exactly means is TBD but their opinions varied from ND playing their allotted ACC games and filling in where they can — to ND playing a full ACC schedule and being eligible for the ACC championship game.
They did seem oddly adamant that ND will insist on playing Navy no matter what the rest of the agreement is.
What I took from it is that they didn’t fully understand the reasons behind the B1G move - they were stuck on “Rutgers to Lincoln is not reduced travel!” aspect that many idiots on twitter were parroting - and they still have a oversized view of the importance of ND football in the national landscape. (As a fan base that tends to do the same we have the right to call this out imo.)
General Consensus was that there is likely to NOT be a season in the fall so all their debate would probably be for naught. Let us hope they are wrong on that point.
PS - I hope they try to play hardball with the ACC and end up losing those games and either cancel their season or end up playing a MAC barnstormer tour because TO HELL WITH NOTRE DAME!!!
I don't know about some of the other conferences, but the MAC is begging for Power 5 opponents. ND would have no problem filling open dates with them.
But ND won’t pay them. So would they play for free?
Where are you getting that idea?
Notre Dame is a good school.
Go back to your spartie crush. NOW.
She’s engaged to a guy I know.
...hmm she must be into zoophilia as well then.
and I’ll bet that guy doesn’t spend all his time typing dumb ass shit on a blog where everyone hates him.
maybe you should learn a lesson here
That guy went to Michigan.
Ope ... no ... you didn’t learn shit
ND never pays. They'll just tap into their PPP "loans."
They may have to play some community colleges in Indiana to fill out their schedule.
Irish vs Sycamores, let's go.
They might be able to schedule more ACC games. Also their TV contract will still pay them money for any game they play and it can be televised
If ND asks, don't schedule them. And if you do, it must be a home game to make up for the home game they stole from us.
prediction (if there's a season):
6-0 record
claims national championship
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH
Could see ND playing their 6 contractually obligated ACC games and then playing the other independent programs to get their regular season in.
ND playing in the ACC is laughable and pathetic.
But at least they don't duck Clemson this year. It would be the most Notre Dame thing ever if the season gets cancelled the one year the Irish are scheduled to go up against a boss monster-level Clemson team.
+1 for eschewing.
Also, I would like to reemphasize the "to hell with Notre Dame" sentiment
For all the failings of the NCAA (and there are multitudes), the fact that they can't bring uniformity to college football, allowing ND to operate independently of most of the rest of the schools, is ludicrous. Hopefully, because the conferences have had to (so far) take the lead on how they're going to handle Covid, the point will be driven home that college sports is devoid of true leadership. Would the NFL allow the NFC East to announce that they are only going to play divisional games this season? Hell no. Yet, that's basically what the NCAA did.
Playing regional only games makes more sense in college FB. The B1G and MAC would be a good fit. Schools like MD & Rutgers can play Pitt, WVA , Army and Navy. Logic doesn't matter, however.
That’s why College Football is different than the NFL. The players are not paid and the teams are schools which are run by Presidents and ADs, not Owners and GMs.
The NCAA has no power and they are a joke. The Big Ten will (and should) make the best decision for their conference. There is no high level leadership, so these schools and conferences are like the rest of us, making the best decision possible every day.
There won’t be a season. These posts are pointless.
This of course is the correct answer, but it was worth it just for the imaginary girlfriend post above!
While I’d love to say yes, it will be a moot point. I will be shocked if a CFB season happens at all this fall.
ND might be left hanging on this one. It will be tough to make up so many games. I can envision them doing more regional games but exceptions would have to be made by many conferences.
Exceptions being that ND plays Michigan, also plays NW and or Purdue in the B1G. Let the MAC join in so the W MI game remains and add Toledo or BG.
On the other hand, schools like WVA in the Big 12 still has to travel far to play conference only games as does Mizzou in the SEC; doesn't make sense.
I think the idea behind the conference only games isn't necessarily to limit travel. It is so the conference can control the schedule more easily and have the power and flexibility to determine a Champion.
They should pay for murdering Declan Sullivan