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Stech OP
Jan 15, 2026 at 01:01 PM ET
Heather Dinich said on Mike Greenberg, PO probably sticking to 12, SEC B1G
who have the power can't agree (Remember they got the power by saying to the others that they will just do their own playoff, if they don't get control) . B1G will vote for 16 now and 24 2-3 years from now, but the SEC at least right now, doesn't want to agree to 24 in the future. By the way, the B1G has fallen off of needing more automatic bids than P4 Champs and highest ranked G6 Champ. That is an interesting change for them, but still the SEC doesn't want it. Makes me think that the SEC/ESPN is striving for the P1 and that the B1G/Fox don't want that. However, who knows? Right now it is the Super Ego Conference backed by ESPN versus the B1G Ego Conference backed by primarily by Fox, and minorly by CBS and NBC. PS Too bad if true on 16 this year, I really think it would be cool to have no byes and at least one if not two rounds of home games IMHO this year. ** Edited by Stech at 1/15/2026, 1:07:42 PM

25 Replies

R
RandomAsianGuy
6mo
I am fine with more seasons of 12 team playoff. Let the stalemate continue!
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Sunsetunderground
6mo
Heard B1G was pissed about ND MOU that no one knew about.
How would that work if they stay at 12 ?
V
vtce2000
6mo
been hearing that B10 directed its schools not to schedule ND
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TerryD
6mo
ND plays 3 Big Ten teams in 2026
Got a link to this "rumor"? 09/06 - vs Wisconsin (in Green Bay, WI) 09/12 - Rice 09/19 - Michigan State 09/26 - at Purdue 10/03 - at North Carolina 10/31 - vs Navy (in Foxborough, MA) 11/07 - Miami (FL) 11/21 - Boston College TBA - SMU TBA - Stanford (Tentative) TBA - at Syracuse TBA - at BYU ** Edited by TerryD at 1/15/2026, 3:11:17 PM
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Sunsetunderground
6mo
Link
Here is a link but I believe the B1G specific comments were on some talking head show after the AD tantrum happened and the MOU was fully understood.
Link: Link
T
TerryD
6mo
Besides, group boycotts are illegal anti-trust violations
An organized group boycott can be a serious antitrust violation, especially if it's a "horizontal" boycott among competitors to restrain trade, fix prices, or exclude rivals from a market, often falling under the Sherman Act as a per se offense (meaning it's illegal regardless of justification) or rule of reason. While political or social boycotts might be protected speech, economic boycotts by competitors to gain unfair advantage are generally illegal, as they harm competition and consumers.
Calamitous Calamitous
6mo
Not automatically illegal but it could be a serious antitrust issue
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
6mo
If the Big Ten was truly going to do that to Notre Dame, then I would
assume the Big Ten would be a lot more clever in how it accomplishes the goal. Plus, the Big Ten would run the plan by the crackerjack legal team to make sure everyone has plausible deniability in case they have to deal with any lawsuits. At the very least put the burden on Notre Dame to prove that it wasn't a mere coincidence that the Big Ten schools opted to schedule games against other schools than Notre Dame.
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TerryD
6mo
Clever works both ways
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
6mo
It would still be up to Notre Dame to prove it in a court of law. That
task would be difficult to do if there isn't much evidence available for Notre Dame to build a case around.
B
Big12 guy
6mo
All ND has to do is win another National Championship.
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
6mo
Winning another national championship won't improve Notre Dame's odds
in court of law though. Assuming Notre Dame ever wanted to go to court over the potential issue.
B
Big12 guy
6mo
Their problem is public opinion of non ND fans. It's
been like that from the beginning, and will continue forever.
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
6mo
Winning another national championship won't solve that problem because it
will continue to exist after the banner is raised.
B
Big12 guy
6mo
yep, but it will be more difficult to discount their independence.
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
6mo
Except Notre Dame's football independence becomes a moot issue if the Big
Ten is trying to organize a blackballing of Notre Dame on future football schedules within the conference.
B
Big12 guy
6mo
I don't think so. The BIG doesn't have power over ND.
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
6mo
Where did I say the Big Ten has power over Notre Dame?
If you look at the original post of the sub-thread, then you will someone reported that the Big Ten may be guilty of "encouraging" its (Big Ten) members to not schedule future games against Notre Dame in football. The subdiscussion is on that topic including the legality of the behavior and potential challenges Notre Dame could have if it decided to pursue the matter further in the courts. IF the Big Ten schools decide (as a group) to stop scheduling OOC games against Notre Dame for whatever reason, then there isn't much Notre Dame could do to prevent it because it takes 2 to tango. So in that regards, the Big Ten could have indirect power over Notre Dame's ability to play Big Ten teams in football going forward (assuming there is any truth to the report).
B
Big12 guy
6mo
I thought it was relevant. If the BIG for whatever
reason blackballs or stops scheduling ND, it will have zero effect on ND's independence, and ND can EASILY backfill it's schedule with other schools. EASILY.
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
6mo
Yes, but that would have no relevance on the potential lawsuit which is
the subject of the sub-thread.
B
Big12 guy
6mo
There will be no lawsuit.
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
6mo
Never say never because TerryD believes Notre Dame would have a case
if they chose to pursue it.
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TerryD
6mo
The OP stated that the Big Ten has directed this
"Directed this"=organized ND's lawyers would have a field day.
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
6mo
I know that is what the OP states and there may or may not be some truth to
it. I'm saying if there is any truth to it, then the Big Ten would be more clever in how it goes about accomplishing it. The Big Ten probably wouldn't put the directive in writing (i.e. memo, email, press release, etc.) that can be easily used as evidence in a court case. The Big Ten probably wouldn't be blatant verbally in any conference meetings in case the meeting is being recorded by someone or the minutes are being documented. Any verbal instructions would be left open to interpretation where you are implicitly being "encouraged" not to schedule Notre Dame in the future while the schools still get the message that they are "encouraged" not to schedule Notre Dame in the future.
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TerryD
6mo
Everyone knew about it in March, 2024 and approved it
Anything written or said to the contrary is BS. Several writers (Nicole Auerbach of NBC, for one) mentioned this back when USC was trying to bait and switch ND. ** Edited by TerryD at 1/15/2026, 2:53:45 PM