Should the rest of college football expand & let ND be an isolationist?
Let them be them, without the same vote of conferences with 16-18 schools, but maybe just let them be them without special privileges. I think I would be okay with that, but to give them an equal vote as conferences with 16-18 teams, many that have many more National Championships in the last 40 years than they do, IMHO is way beyond bias. What do you think?
** Edited by Stech at 1/13/2026, 7:28:49 PM
** Edited by Stech at 1/13/2026, 7:44:53 PM
53 Replies
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hokieZ71
6mo
I prefer the NFL model, and I think there should be 64 teams in this league. With set routes to playoff spots just like the NFL based purely on winning percentage, a salary cap, contracts tying players to teams, all of that. No selection committee. Just finish top two in an eight team league and make a 16-team playoff. League champs get home games in the first round. It’s very simple. Notre Dame should be in this league.
And the rest of college athletics should go back to what it has always been before. I think there should be 10 school limits to these “non-football” conferences. Double round robin in hoops, all of that. Notre Dame should be in a Big East style league here, with BC, DePaul, Syracuse, UConn, St. John’s, Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall and Villanova. I’d watch that hoops league and it’d be some good ball. Do the same with all the other regions in the game. Put Maryland back in the ACC. Put VT back in a Metro with Louisville, West Virginia, Pitt, Memphis, Miami, Florida State and a few others. I mean, really, we aren’t an ACC school or fanbase. It’s not “VT”. But neither is Miami, Pitt or Florida State.
Big time football has got to separate from the rest. Just my pie in the sky attitude.
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
IX though? If it was that easy to do, then I would think the schools would have already done it by now.
(In response to this post by hokieZ71)
6mo
Is it sponsored by the school? If it is, Title IX applies, if it isn't, Title IX might apply to it.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
6mo
because I grade on a 10 point scale. 😁
** Edited by Stech at 1/14/2026, 6:29:40 PM
(In response to this post by hokieZ71)
6mo
prefer the regional NCAA style football, not the NFL style. I could go for a minimum and maximum budget though. There is no way a $30M a year athletic budget at Toledo can compete with a $300M budget at tOSU.
Let any football school that can come up with the money join, and those that can't can have their own championship.
(In response to this post by hokieZ71)
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TerryD
6mo
Nothing else matters as much.
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
searching for the next power conference to suck the blood out of and to house their other non-football sports. That conference won’t be the Big 18 or $EC. Hopefully they’ll go crawling back into the Big East hole. But if not, the Big 12 might look appealing to them. And at first it looks like a great move because ND will make it seem like they’re a good partner until you find out they’re not.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
6mo
the B12 gave them a better deal than the ACC. Let ND pick their own opponents, like a 12 year deal that they have with Clemson.
They don't need the B12 in any way shape or form however. They can put their athletic department in the Big East, and sign long term scheduling agreement with just about any school they want in football.
Would VT turn down a 12 year scheduling agreement with ND? Rhetorical, of course.
(In response to this post by Calamitous)
6mo
because ND would either want all 12 games played in South Bend or VT's "home game" played in a neutral stadium of ND's choice.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
2
2hhoop3
6mo
doubt that is a true statement.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
6mo
have moved on from wanting them. Our issue is no favoritism for them from our commissioner or the rest of College Football. Even though the change in stance doesn’t seem to register with some, it seems to be registering with more when their AD attacked the ACC, and if we stay at 12 for the playoff, they could get in over somebody ranked higher than them. I really hope the 16 goes through, so we can stop that discussion.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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TerryD
6mo
Hence, independence.
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
non-football sports. ND has big cash. Use that cash to go independent in ALL sports.
(In response to this post by TerryD)
6mo
a non issue out here in flyover. I pretty much know my school, or any school in the B12 will never be a ND, so give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's.
Just to ask a question, if tOSO and Alabama approached the ACC, would you give them the same deal as ND?
** Edited by Big12 guy at 1/14/2026, 5:51:10 PM
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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TerryD
6mo
Are you okay with #16 Michigan getting in over #15 Kansas because the Big Ten gets 4 auto bids?
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
a conference, but if not that’s the price you pay for being an isolationist.
(In response to this post by TerryD)
6mo
treating other people like servants, instead of the other way around.
Do un to others as you would have them do un to you is the opposite of their actions. I don’t know why that doesn’t disturb you and TerryD, but narcissists usually act that way. So maybe you should consider that in your behavior. Again, it is the furthest thing being taught by the person that Notre Dame should be trying to model themselves after. It’s really scary how you can’t see it.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
6mo
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
the ACC continues to be lucky to have those ND games IMHO.
(In response to this post by Calamitous)
6mo
in the ACC. If we played everyone were playing now with no ND it would be every bit as competitive. I’d rather have UMCP as a full member.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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TerryD
6mo
Independence is permissible and not outlawed, so why would anyone want to extract a pound of flesh from a school that resists assimilation?
Conferences are not holy objects, but rather greed induced collectives.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
6mo
Don’t let being a Catholic school fool you. ND and greed are the same thing. Independence should never be outlawed. But any one entity (i.e. a university like ND) who clams to be independent should never pose as independent in just one thing but grovel for all their other things to be included in a “greed induced collective” like the Big East or ACC.
Go full on independent in ALL sports. Stop being a hypocrite Notre Dame.
(In response to this post by TerryD)
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TerryD
6mo
So, this is not different.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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TerryD
6mo
Both are going to happen.
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
6mo
is driving this madness? From where I'm sitting, it's media dollars.
VT was independent not too long ago. Many schools were, and it wasn't that long ago. When did it become mandatory to be in a conference? maybe protections for the independents are needed, and maybe the best independent should get an auto bid.
Just because ND is strong enough to not need a conference should not negate their access to the playoffs, playoff money, or an auto bid if they qualify. The this is, there is no auto for the independents, so they negotiate a deal where they are not shut out.
ND should not be punished for being in a conference. No, I would not like being the school passed over by the committee, but i do not have to like it.
I didn't like BYU being passed over for SMU when BYU beat them head to head. I didn't like Miami jumping BYU when they were punished for losing a conference championship game. BYU, however, did the classy thing, and moved on.
ND is in your conference for all sports except football. They will NEVER join your conference for football. They should not be punished for that. The ACC gets the better part of that deal IMHO. It's just reality that ND will be a part of the playoffs - you don't have to like it, but it is what it is.
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
for being independent in football. But they have to earn it. They have to play at least 9 power conference teams every year which they do most years. I would say 8, but since they’re not in a conference and will never play in a conference championship game, they have to play 9 power conference teams like any power conference champion would have to. Maybe even make a special rule (since ND is the king of making up special rules) where ND has to play 13 games every 4 years so they get to experience the drain of what a conference champion contender has to go through. No byes in the playoffs except for any year they play 13 games and finish top 4 or better. If still a 12 team playoff, they cannot get in over a higher ranked school.
This and ND has to go independent in ALL sports if football independence is so scared to them. They need to be honest with themselves that they need zero conference support if they remain independent in football.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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TerryD
6mo
They are just made for TV money-grabbing collectives, a business deal, nothing more now.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
6mo
ND independent football is just made for TV money-grabbing TV executives and school administrators. No different than the money grubbing conferences.
(In response to this post by TerryD)
6mo
you ruin it for everyone else.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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TerryD
6mo
...not that it would matter.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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TerryD
6mo
I know you disagree and that is fine.
At 16, it really won't matter to ND either way.
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
With a team ranked outside of the top 16, ND is #16 and say Iowa State for example is #15, that would knock #15 ISU out in favor of a lower ranked ND. That sounds like the same crap we’re accustomed to seeing with ND’s special rules.
Because of this ND has to be ranked #15 or higher. That’s unless the G5 school is ranked #15, then a #16 ND can get in. If the Big 12 champ, ACC champ and G5 teams are all ranked outside of the top 16 but in the top 25, then ND has to be ranked #13 to get in.
I’m loving these special rules. Is this how it feels? It’s kind of empowering.
** Edited by Calamitous at 1/16/2026, 12:37:11 AM
(In response to this post by TerryD)
6mo
(In response to this post by TerryD)
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TerryD
6mo
In a playoff era of multiple automatic qualifiers for P2 conferences and G6 teams getting in, I have no problem at all with ND getting a guarantee as well if ranked inside those parameters.
The only difference is ND is independent and those other teams are in collectives.
** Edited by TerryD at 1/14/2026, 6:54:44 PM
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
(In response to this post by TerryD)
T
TerryD
6mo
This was all mutually agreed upon.
Make it all independents....fine by me. There is only one other.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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TerryD
6mo
But they just want to suck the life and all the cash out of ND, not treat it well.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
6mo
But ND’s proclivity to parasitic tendencies is at the center of their core. They refuse to be left alone for all their other non football sports and they will just find a power adjacent conference to wheel and deal and make special demands to benefit their football team while remaining independent. I just hope Tech isn’t in that conference when the dust settles.
(In response to this post by Stech)
6mo
They are dancing to try to get out of the ACC penalties early, they know it, and anybody with a brain knows it, so they can change the 5-6 football games to the SEC. Almost half of what SEC teams play every year.
(In response to this post by Calamitous)