2025 College Football Thread: Notre Dame signed a guy (1 Viewer)

[Schmeabs]

SEC needs to join the party and play 9 conference games

 

[Chadstroma]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

There are tons of USC fans that are livid about USC’s approach to this rivalry. And this isn’t just Riley, it’s Jen Cohen and others in the administration. And yes, the issue is 100% about having a perennial playoff team as one of their non-conference games every year which may (but not necessarily) make a path to the playoffs more difficult.

But to be clear, this is what Riley said based on what I read. But you’re right about what is ultimately driving this.

“Do I want to play the game? Hell, yeah, I want to play the game,” Riley said. “It’s one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I’m the head coach of USC. I’m going to back USC. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make USC as good as it can be. I’m not going to let anything stand in between that.”

Wait are we surprised that Lincoln Riley wants to duck more competition to try and do something easier?

Well USC did probably have the toughest non-conference schedule last season, but yeah, he would definitely prefer to have an SEC setup (4 non-conference with 3 patsies typically).

Weird. Wonder if he could have been at a blue blood program and in the SEC if that were true...or if maybe he left for the easiest competition available (explicitly because he didn't want to go to the SEC) and has had poor teams every year since. And now is whining about how his schedule is too hard.

Idk. I've met the guy. I don't think he's a very good leader. I think he's a phenomenal offensive mind, but every successive year he's been a head coach I think he's even worse at it lol.

On a side note... one thing I have never understood is why in both college and NFL there is a constant expectation that a good OC or DC will be a good HC. The skillsets needed for being a coordinator versus a head coach are very different. It is possible to possess the attributes needed for both but it is rare.

Now I understand that it is also kind of a stuck thing. What is the alternative? Hire college HC'S? Historically that has been even worse as there really wasn't a direct skillset transfer that would translate to the NFL from coaching. However, with the massive changes we have seen in college, I think those skillsets are likely becoming much closer together than they use to be.

And I agree... Riley sucks . Go Irish!

 

[Chadstroma]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

 

[Chadstroma]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

4, no? SJSU and Utah State or did I mess up looking at schedule?

 

[General Malaise]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

There are tons of USC fans that are livid about USC’s approach to this rivalry. And this isn’t just Riley, it’s Jen Cohen and others in the administration. And yes, the issue is 100% about having a perennial playoff team as one of their non-conference games every year which may (but not necessarily) make a path to the playoffs more difficult.

But to be clear, this is what Riley said based on what I read. But you’re right about what is ultimately driving this.

“Do I want to play the game? Hell, yeah, I want to play the game,” Riley said. “It’s one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I’m the head coach of USC. I’m going to back USC. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make USC as good as it can be. I’m not going to let anything stand in between that.”

Wait are we surprised that Lincoln Riley wants to duck more competition to try and do something easier?

Well USC did probably have the toughest non-conference schedule last season, but yeah, he would definitely prefer to have an SEC setup (4 non-conference with 3 patsies typically).

Weird. Wonder if he could have been at a blue blood program and in the SEC if that were true...or if maybe he left for the easiest competition available (explicitly because he didn't want to go to the SEC) and has had poor teams every year since. And now is whining about how his schedule is too hard.

Idk. I've met the guy. I don't think he's a very good leader. I think he's a phenomenal offensive mind, but every successive year he's been a head coach I think he's even worse at it lol.

I think he left because he got a truckload of money.

I'd love to see some evidence of that. My recollection is that OU was willing to pay top of market.

Maybe some people would prefer to live in SoCal vs Norman, OK.

 

[General Malaise]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

 

[Chadstroma]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

We aren't the ones trying to get out of one of the all time biggest college football rivalries.

 

[General Malaise]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

We aren't the ones trying to get out of one of the all time biggest college football rivalries.

Cancels nothing, you called out USC's schedule knowing your team played two service academies, 2 schools from the MAC, a horrendous Stanford team, Purdue, Virginia and Georgia Tech last year. I took Lincoln Riley's comments to be a shot at ND's schedule more than anything else. Your school has refused to join a conference because the independent schedule benefits them greatly. C'mon, now.

 

[bigbottom]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

Fair.

 

[bigbottom]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

4, no? SJSU and Utah State or did I mess up looking at schedule?

Three - LSU, Utah State, Notre Dame

 

[bigbottom]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

We aren't the ones trying to get out of one of the all time biggest college football rivalries.

Again, fair.

 

[Chadstroma]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

We aren't the ones trying to get out of one of the all time biggest college football rivalries.

Cancels nothing, you called out USC's schedule knowing your team played two service academies, 2 schools from the MAC, a horrendous Stanford team, Purdue, Virginia and Georgia Tech last year. I took Lincoln Riley's comments to be a shot at ND's schedule more than anything else. Your school has refused to join a conference because the independent schedule benefits them greatly. C'mon, now.

ND refused to join a conference for football (as it is a member of the ACC in all other sports) because unlike every other school, ND doesn't need a conference and it actually waters down our ability. ND, like it or not to the haters, is unique among college football being able to demand a major national media deal on it's own. Joining any conference would be a money loser for ND. Every other school would make the same choice to remain independent if it were more financially advantages. There is zero reason now for ND to join a conference. If they joined any conference other than the SEC the whining would continue from haters.

Navy will never be canceled. Virginia and Georgia Teach are basically conference games (see the last point above) meeting it's ACC obligations. Purdue and Stanford are rivalries as is USC and BC which we play every year.

USC is supposed to be a premier program- yet we are not trying to walk away from it. USC is.

 

[Chadstroma]

Three - LSU, Utah State, Notre Dame

Where did I get SJSU from?

 

[Chadstroma]

BTW- B10's loss for turning ND down twice when we did try to join.

 

[Schmeabs]

BTW- B10's loss for turning ND down twice when we did try to join.

We?

 

[Dan Lambskin]

really should not allow ND into the playoffs with that weak schedule. Join a conference or go away. Would love to see ND eventually fade into obscurity

Maybe they can just start up a globetrotters / Savanah Bananas type of shtick and travel around the country

 

[CletiusMaximus]

There's a funny story in the Athletic today from Stewart Mandel relating to the Big Ten and strength of schedule: One thing is clear after Big Ten media days: The conference is in la-la-land

Some great quotes from B10 coaches lamenting how they all have the most difficult schedule in the world, but the focus is on the B10 commissioner's drive for a 16 team playoff in which the B10 and SEC would each get a guaranteed 4 spots, with the ACC and Big12 getting 2 each. This would render the non-conference schedule essentially meaningless for these conferences, and also give them a big end of season play-in tournament as the B10 has apparently planned. According to Mandel (and I think common sense), there is much stronger support among fans for a 5+11 tournament format.

 

[Instinctive]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

There are tons of USC fans that are livid about USC’s approach to this rivalry. And this isn’t just Riley, it’s Jen Cohen and others in the administration. And yes, the issue is 100% about having a perennial playoff team as one of their non-conference games every year which may (but not necessarily) make a path to the playoffs more difficult.

But to be clear, this is what Riley said based on what I read. But you’re right about what is ultimately driving this.

“Do I want to play the game? Hell, yeah, I want to play the game,” Riley said. “It’s one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I’m the head coach of USC. I’m going to back USC. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make USC as good as it can be. I’m not going to let anything stand in between that.”

Wait are we surprised that Lincoln Riley wants to duck more competition to try and do something easier?

Well USC did probably have the toughest non-conference schedule last season, but yeah, he would definitely prefer to have an SEC setup (4 non-conference with 3 patsies typically).

Weird. Wonder if he could have been at a blue blood program and in the SEC if that were true...or if maybe he left for the easiest competition available (explicitly because he didn't want to go to the SEC) and has had poor teams every year since. And now is whining about how his schedule is too hard.

Idk. I've met the guy. I don't think he's a very good leader. I think he's a phenomenal offensive mind, but every successive year he's been a head coach I think he's even worse at it lol.

I think he left because he got a truckload of money.

I'd love to see some evidence of that. My recollection is that OU was willing to pay top of market.

Maybe some people would prefer to live in SoCal vs Norman, OK.

I mean that could absolutely be true also. But I'd love to see any reporting on it. I only know the discussions leading up to it and immediately after - to my knowledge at no point did he ever say "I appreciate it, but I'd rather be in LA."

It was, however, reported that he said he didn't want OU to move to the SEC. That is a fact.

I can't guess what was in his head.

 

[Instinctive]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

There are tons of USC fans that are livid about USC’s approach to this rivalry. And this isn’t just Riley, it’s Jen Cohen and others in the administration. And yes, the issue is 100% about having a perennial playoff team as one of their non-conference games every year which may (but not necessarily) make a path to the playoffs more difficult.

But to be clear, this is what Riley said based on what I read. But you’re right about what is ultimately driving this.

“Do I want to play the game? Hell, yeah, I want to play the game,” Riley said. “It’s one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I’m the head coach of USC. I’m going to back USC. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make USC as good as it can be. I’m not going to let anything stand in between that.”

Wait are we surprised that Lincoln Riley wants to duck more competition to try and do something easier?

Well USC did probably have the toughest non-conference schedule last season, but yeah, he would definitely prefer to have an SEC setup (4 non-conference with 3 patsies typically).

Weird. Wonder if he could have been at a blue blood program and in the SEC if that were true...or if maybe he left for the easiest competition available (explicitly because he didn't want to go to the SEC) and has had poor teams every year since. And now is whining about how his schedule is too hard.

Idk. I've met the guy. I don't think he's a very good leader. I think he's a phenomenal offensive mind, but every successive year he's been a head coach I think he's even worse at it lol.

On a side note... one thing I have never understood is why in both college and NFL there is a constant expectation that a good OC or DC will be a good HC. The skillsets needed for being a coordinator versus a head coach are very different. It is possible to possess the attributes needed for both but it is rare.

Now I understand that it is also kind of a stuck thing. What is the alternative? Hire college HC'S? Historically that has been even worse as there really wasn't a direct skillset transfer that would translate to the NFL from coaching. However, with the massive changes we have seen in college, I think those skillsets are likely becoming much closer together than they use to be.

And I agree... Riley sucks . Go Irish!

My only real hypothesis is that it's the Peter Principle. Very few people recognize they're at their peak role and can have it all and they all want the next thing instead.

 

[General Malaise]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

There are tons of USC fans that are livid about USC’s approach to this rivalry. And this isn’t just Riley, it’s Jen Cohen and others in the administration. And yes, the issue is 100% about having a perennial playoff team as one of their non-conference games every year which may (but not necessarily) make a path to the playoffs more difficult.

But to be clear, this is what Riley said based on what I read. But you’re right about what is ultimately driving this.

“Do I want to play the game? Hell, yeah, I want to play the game,” Riley said. “It’s one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I’m the head coach of USC. I’m going to back USC. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make USC as good as it can be. I’m not going to let anything stand in between that.”

Wait are we surprised that Lincoln Riley wants to duck more competition to try and do something easier?

Well USC did probably have the toughest non-conference schedule last season, but yeah, he would definitely prefer to have an SEC setup (4 non-conference with 3 patsies typically).

Weird. Wonder if he could have been at a blue blood program and in the SEC if that were true...or if maybe he left for the easiest competition available (explicitly because he didn't want to go to the SEC) and has had poor teams every year since. And now is whining about how his schedule is too hard.

Idk. I've met the guy. I don't think he's a very good leader. I think he's a phenomenal offensive mind, but every successive year he's been a head coach I think he's even worse at it lol.

I think he left because he got a truckload of money.

I'd love to see some evidence of that. My recollection is that OU was willing to pay top of market.

Maybe some people would prefer to live in SoCal vs Norman, OK.

I mean that could absolutely be true also. But I'd love to see any reporting on it. I only know the discussions leading up to it and immediately after - to my knowledge at no point did he ever say "I appreciate it, but I'd rather be in LA."

It was, however, reported that he said he didn't want OU to move to the SEC. That is a fact.

I can't guess what was in his head.

Well, another season like last season and he'll no longer have the option of being so 'choosey'. And I don't think the NFL is calling him either.

 

[Sparky Polastri]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

We aren't the ones trying to get out of one of the all time biggest college football rivalries.

Cancels nothing, you called out USC's schedule knowing your team played two service academies, 2 schools from the MAC, a horrendous Stanford team, Purdue, Virginia and Georgia Tech last year. I took Lincoln Riley's comments to be a shot at ND's schedule more than anything else. Your school has refused to join a conference because the independent schedule benefits them greatly. C'mon, now.

ND refused to join a conference for football (as it is a member of the ACC in all other sports) because unlike every other school, ND doesn't need a conference and it actually waters down our ability. ND, like it or not to the haters, is unique among college football being able to demand a major national media deal on it's own. Joining any conference would be a money loser for ND. Every other school would make the same choice to remain independent if it were more financially advantages. There is zero reason now for ND to join a conference. If they joined any conference other than the SEC the whining would continue from haters.

Navy will never be canceled. Virginia and Georgia Teach are basically conference games (see the last point above) meeting it's ACC obligations. Purdue and Stanford are rivalries as is USC and BC which we play every year.

USC is supposed to be a premier program- yet we are not trying to walk away from it. USC is.

ND doesn't "need" a conference because of the carveouts the NCAA and the CFP provide them historically and they tweaked the "top four conference champs" to now be "top four teams" for byes. Without the special treatment for all those years, they'd have been in a conference long ago. It would have been the only way they could sniff meaningful post season play.

 

[Instinctive]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

There are tons of USC fans that are livid about USC’s approach to this rivalry. And this isn’t just Riley, it’s Jen Cohen and others in the administration. And yes, the issue is 100% about having a perennial playoff team as one of their non-conference games every year which may (but not necessarily) make a path to the playoffs more difficult.

But to be clear, this is what Riley said based on what I read. But you’re right about what is ultimately driving this.

“Do I want to play the game? Hell, yeah, I want to play the game,” Riley said. “It’s one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I’m the head coach of USC. I’m going to back USC. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make USC as good as it can be. I’m not going to let anything stand in between that.”

Wait are we surprised that Lincoln Riley wants to duck more competition to try and do something easier?

Well USC did probably have the toughest non-conference schedule last season, but yeah, he would definitely prefer to have an SEC setup (4 non-conference with 3 patsies typically).

Weird. Wonder if he could have been at a blue blood program and in the SEC if that were true...or if maybe he left for the easiest competition available (explicitly because he didn't want to go to the SEC) and has had poor teams every year since. And now is whining about how his schedule is too hard.

Idk. I've met the guy. I don't think he's a very good leader. I think he's a phenomenal offensive mind, but every successive year he's been a head coach I think he's even worse at it lol.

I think he left because he got a truckload of money.

I'd love to see some evidence of that. My recollection is that OU was willing to pay top of market.

Maybe some people would prefer to live in SoCal vs Norman, OK.

I mean that could absolutely be true also. But I'd love to see any reporting on it. I only know the discussions leading up to it and immediately after - to my knowledge at no point did he ever say "I appreciate it, but I'd rather be in LA."

It was, however, reported that he said he didn't want OU to move to the SEC. That is a fact.

I can't guess what was in his head.

Well, another season like last season and he'll no longer have the option of being so 'choosey'. And I don't think the NFL is calling him either.

They should be. As an OC. He's got an awesome football mind and is a great playcaller. Some guys can't be the head coach and still do the other stuff.

 

[General Malaise]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

There are tons of USC fans that are livid about USC’s approach to this rivalry. And this isn’t just Riley, it’s Jen Cohen and others in the administration. And yes, the issue is 100% about having a perennial playoff team as one of their non-conference games every year which may (but not necessarily) make a path to the playoffs more difficult.

But to be clear, this is what Riley said based on what I read. But you’re right about what is ultimately driving this.

“Do I want to play the game? Hell, yeah, I want to play the game,” Riley said. “It’s one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I’m the head coach of USC. I’m going to back USC. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make USC as good as it can be. I’m not going to let anything stand in between that.”

Wait are we surprised that Lincoln Riley wants to duck more competition to try and do something easier?

Well USC did probably have the toughest non-conference schedule last season, but yeah, he would definitely prefer to have an SEC setup (4 non-conference with 3 patsies typically).

Weird. Wonder if he could have been at a blue blood program and in the SEC if that were true...or if maybe he left for the easiest competition available (explicitly because he didn't want to go to the SEC) and has had poor teams every year since. And now is whining about how his schedule is too hard.

Idk. I've met the guy. I don't think he's a very good leader. I think he's a phenomenal offensive mind, but every successive year he's been a head coach I think he's even worse at it lol.

I think he left because he got a truckload of money.

I'd love to see some evidence of that. My recollection is that OU was willing to pay top of market.

Maybe some people would prefer to live in SoCal vs Norman, OK.

I mean that could absolutely be true also. But I'd love to see any reporting on it. I only know the discussions leading up to it and immediately after - to my knowledge at no point did he ever say "I appreciate it, but I'd rather be in LA."

It was, however, reported that he said he didn't want OU to move to the SEC. That is a fact.

I can't guess what was in his head.

Well, another season like last season and he'll no longer have the option of being so 'choosey'. And I don't think the NFL is calling him either.

They should be. As an OC. He's got an awesome football mind and is a great playcaller. Some guys can't be the head coach and still do the other stuff.

Sure, I could see him being an OC in the NFL but I don't think he'd cut it as a HC in the pros. But I don't think the NFL is calling him for HC jobs if he has another season like this past one. I don't think that's an outlandish belief.

 

[Instinctive]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

There are tons of USC fans that are livid about USC’s approach to this rivalry. And this isn’t just Riley, it’s Jen Cohen and others in the administration. And yes, the issue is 100% about having a perennial playoff team as one of their non-conference games every year which may (but not necessarily) make a path to the playoffs more difficult.

But to be clear, this is what Riley said based on what I read. But you’re right about what is ultimately driving this.

“Do I want to play the game? Hell, yeah, I want to play the game,” Riley said. “It’s one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I’m the head coach of USC. I’m going to back USC. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make USC as good as it can be. I’m not going to let anything stand in between that.”

Wait are we surprised that Lincoln Riley wants to duck more competition to try and do something easier?

Well USC did probably have the toughest non-conference schedule last season, but yeah, he would definitely prefer to have an SEC setup (4 non-conference with 3 patsies typically).

Weird. Wonder if he could have been at a blue blood program and in the SEC if that were true...or if maybe he left for the easiest competition available (explicitly because he didn't want to go to the SEC) and has had poor teams every year since. And now is whining about how his schedule is too hard.

Idk. I've met the guy. I don't think he's a very good leader. I think he's a phenomenal offensive mind, but every successive year he's been a head coach I think he's even worse at it lol.

I think he left because he got a truckload of money.

I'd love to see some evidence of that. My recollection is that OU was willing to pay top of market.

Maybe some people would prefer to live in SoCal vs Norman, OK.

I mean that could absolutely be true also. But I'd love to see any reporting on it. I only know the discussions leading up to it and immediately after - to my knowledge at no point did he ever say "I appreciate it, but I'd rather be in LA."

It was, however, reported that he said he didn't want OU to move to the SEC. That is a fact.

I can't guess what was in his head.

Well, another season like last season and he'll no longer have the option of being so 'choosey'. And I don't think the NFL is calling him either.

They should be. As an OC. He's got an awesome football mind and is a great playcaller. Some guys can't be the head coach and still do the other stuff.

Sure, I could see him being an OC in the NFL but I don't think he'd cut it as a HC in the pros. But I don't think the NFL is calling him for HC jobs if he has another season like this past one. I don't think that's an outlandish belief.

I don't think he can really cut it as a HC in college. And that was my opinion before he left OU. I'm in total agreement with that point.

 

[bigbottom]

Three - LSU, Utah State, Notre Dame

Where did I get SJSU from?

2023 season.

 

[bigbottom]

Again, for all the USC/Riley haters, Fanduel has USC predicted at 7.5 wins. I will take the over on that line for any bets that folks here want to make up to an aggregate cap of $500.

 

[Schmeabs]

Again, for all the USC/Riley haters, Fanduel has USC predicted at 7.5 wins. I will take the over on that line for any bets that folks here want to make up to an aggregate cap of $500.

Tempting but I thought I saw it jumped up to 8

 

[Schmeabs]

On Topic

L.A. seems to agree Riley on the hot seat. As an Oregon fan I hope Riley stays another 10 years.

 

[Schmeabs]

Through 40 games, Riley is 26-14. Clay Helton through 40 games was 28-12.

 

[FairWarning]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

We aren't the ones trying to get out of one of the all time biggest college football rivalries.

Cancels nothing, you called out USC's schedule knowing your team played two service academies, 2 schools from the MAC, a horrendous Stanford team, Purdue, Virginia and Georgia Tech last year. I took Lincoln Riley's comments to be a shot at ND's schedule more than anything else. Your school has refused to join a conference because the independent schedule benefits them greatly. C'mon, now.

Miami’ was supposed to play ND and rescheduled the game late. I think Arkansas was supposed to play also, rescheduled because of the SEC talk of adding a 9th conference game.

 

[bigbottom]

Again, for all the USC/Riley haters, Fanduel has USC predicted at 7.5 wins. I will take the over on that line for any bets that folks here want to make up to an aggregate cap of $500.

Tempting but I thought I saw it jumped up to 8

7.5 at a couple places per this site.

2025 College Football Win Totals Odds | NCAAF Win Total Odds

2025 College Football Win Total Odds for regular season over/under win totals at VegasInsider along with more NCAAF Betting Resources.

www.vegasinsider.com

Come on, let’s do this!

 

[Schmeabs]

My guess is actually 8 wins

 

[bigbottom]

My guess is actually 8 wins

How about we set the line at 8? I’ll take the over, you take the under. 8 wins is a push.

 

[Schmeabs]

My guess is actually 8 wins

How about we set the line at 8? I’ll take the over, you take the under. 8 wins is a push.

Deal $100?

 

[bigbottom]

My guess is actually 8 wins

How about we set the line at 8? I’ll take the over, you take the under. 8 wins is a push.

Deal $100?

 

[bigbottom]

By the way, here is the link to Trump’s Executive Order on “Saving College Sports.” I think there is a debate to be had as to whether the government should be stepping in here, but if you assume that it should, this EO seems pretty reasonable to me given its stated goals. Of course, I’ve only read the text of the Order and not all the commentary on its effects which I’m sure I don’t fully appreciate. Also, any real impact likely won’t be known until regulations implementing the Order are developed and implemented (and have legal effect).

Saving College Sports

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose and

www.whitehouse.gov

 

[bigbottom]

This provision from the Order seems consistent with the outcome of the latest legal dispute, but will we have competing mechanisms (NCAA vs federal government) for determining fair market value of NIL deals? Also, the Order is foreshadowing using federal preemption to strike down conflicting state laws on the subject, which would likely end up being a pretty big deal (and may very well be the right approach).

(c) To preserve the critical educational and developmental benefits of collegiate athletics for our Nation, it is the policy of the executive branch that third-party, pay-for-play payments to collegiate athletes are improper and should not be permitted by universities. This policy does not apply to compensation provided to an athlete for the fair market value that the athlete provides to a third party, such as for a brand endorsement.

(d) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Education, and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, shall develop a plan to advance the policies set forth in subsections (a)-(c) of this section through all available and appropriate regulatory, enforcement, and litigation mechanisms, including Federal funding decisions, enforcement of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, prohibiting unconstitutional actions by States to regulate interstate commerce, and enforcement of other constitutional and statutory protections, and by working with the Congress and State governments, as appropriate.

 

[General Malaise]

Again, for all the USC/Riley haters, Fanduel has USC predicted at 7.5 wins. I will take the over on that line for any bets that folks here want to make up to an aggregate cap of $500.

He could very well win 8 games and still get fired.....

 

[General Malaise]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

We aren't the ones trying to get out of one of the all time biggest college football rivalries.

Cancels nothing, you called out USC's schedule knowing your team played two service academies, 2 schools from the MAC, a horrendous Stanford team, Purdue, Virginia and Georgia Tech last year. I took Lincoln Riley's comments to be a shot at ND's schedule more than anything else. Your school has refused to join a conference because the independent schedule benefits them greatly. C'mon, now.

Miami’ was supposed to play ND and rescheduled the game late. I think Arkansas was supposed to play also, rescheduled because of the SEC talk of adding a 9th conference game.

Notre Dame benefits from playing an independent schedule every year and especially now that it's easier to make the playoffs. They were awesome last year and proved themselves in the playoffs but it's not really controversial to believe they have an easier path than schools in the SEC or Big10.

 

[Chadstroma]

Regular season by conference last season for ND.

SEC- I
B10- 3
ACC- 5
MAC- I
Indepedent- I
AAC- I

So.... basically a harder ACC schedule. Team rankings .com has it as the 26th hardest SOS in the nation before the beating Indiana, Georgia and Penn St. The year before that ended at 33rd, then 21st, 7th, 16th, 13th, 9th, 28th, 8th and then 32nd. 10 years of data says you are a hater.

 

[General Malaise]

Regular season by conference last season for ND.

SEC- I
B10- 3
ACC- 5
MAC- I
Indepedent- I
AAC- I

So.... basically a harder ACC schedule. Team rankings .com has it as the 26th hardest SOS in the nation before the beating Indiana, Georgia and Penn St. The year before that ended at 33rd, then 21st, 7th, 16th, 13th, 9th, 28th, 8th and then 32nd. 10 years of data says you are a hater.

Notre Dame played 2 schools from the MAC last year and lost one of them.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Regular season by conference last season for ND.

SEC- I
B10- 3
ACC- 5
MAC- I
Indepedent- I
AAC- I

So.... basically a harder ACC schedule. Team rankings .com has it as the 26th hardest SOS in the nation before the beating Indiana, Georgia and Penn St. The year before that ended at 33rd, then 21st, 7th, 16th, 13th, 9th, 28th, 8th and then 32nd. 10 years of data says you are a hater.

Notre Dame played 2 schools from the MAC last year and lost one of them.

If they hadn't had that extraordinary home upset loss to N. Ill (who finished 4-4 in the MAC), Notre Dame might have been #1 going into the tournament and played Ohio St. in the quarterfinals.

 

[bigbottom]

Regular season by conference last season for ND.

SEC- I
B10- 3
ACC- 5
MAC- I
Indepedent- I
AAC- I

So.... basically a harder ACC schedule. Team rankings .com has it as the 26th hardest SOS in the nation before the beating Indiana, Georgia and Penn St. The year before that ended at 33rd, then 21st, 7th, 16th, 13th, 9th, 28th, 8th and then 32nd. 10 years of data says you are a hater.

Notre Dame played 2 schools from the MAC last year and lost one of them.

If they hadn't had that extraordinary home upset loss to N. Ill (who finished 4-4 in the MAC), Notre Dame might have been #1 going into the tournament and played Ohio St. in the quarterfinals.

How would that have been possible? Oregon went undefeated and played and beat two playoff teams. Notre Dame’s best wins were maybe 8-4 A&M and 8-4 Louisville. Or was it 6-6 USC?

 

[Chadstroma]

Regular season by conference last season for ND.

SEC- I
B10- 3
ACC- 5
MAC- I
Indepedent- I
AAC- I

So.... basically a harder ACC schedule. Team rankings .com has it as the 26th hardest SOS in the nation before the beating Indiana, Georgia and Penn St. The year before that ended at 33rd, then 21st, 7th, 16th, 13th, 9th, 28th, 8th and then 32nd. 10 years of data says you are a hater.

Notre Dame played 2 schools from the MAC last year and lost one of them.

And then they went on and beat two B10 and one SEC team to get to the Championship. Up to that point, the data says they had the 26th strongest SOS. Not my argument or opinion, independent data. As I laid it out..... the SOS does vary but in the last ten years they had a top 10 SOS 3 times. They are affiliated with ACC so they are obligated to play a heavy ACC schedule. They aren't going out and trying to schedule a bunch of patsy games. USC is supposed to be a perennial contender and they aren't trying to run away from that match. It seems like the SEC and B10 teams are the ones that are scared to schedule them now.

It is just a hater point to keep pressing when the data clearly says that you are wrong.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Regular season by conference last season for ND.

SEC- I
B10- 3
ACC- 5
MAC- I
Indepedent- I
AAC- I

So.... basically a harder ACC schedule. Team rankings .com has it as the 26th hardest SOS in the nation before the beating Indiana, Georgia and Penn St. The year before that ended at 33rd, then 21st, 7th, 16th, 13th, 9th, 28th, 8th and then 32nd. 10 years of data says you are a hater.

Notre Dame played 2 schools from the MAC last year and lost one of them.

If they hadn't had that extraordinary home upset loss to N. Ill (who finished 4-4 in the MAC), Notre Dame might have been #1 going into the tournament and played Ohio St. in the quarterfinals.

How would that have been possible? Oregon went undefeated and played and beat two playoff teams. Notre Dame’s best wins were maybe 8-4 A&M and 8-4 Louisville. Or was it 6-6 USC?

I don’t remember preseason rankings but they would both have been undefeated so probably #2 at worst in the bracket.

 

[General Malaise]

Regular season by conference last season for ND.

SEC- I
B10- 3
ACC- 5
MAC- I
Indepedent- I
AAC- I

So.... basically a harder ACC schedule. Team rankings .com has it as the 26th hardest SOS in the nation before the beating Indiana, Georgia and Penn St. The year before that ended at 33rd, then 21st, 7th, 16th, 13th, 9th, 28th, 8th and then 32nd. 10 years of data says you are a hater.

Notre Dame played 2 schools from the MAC last year and lost one of them.

And then they went on and beat two B10 and one SEC team to get to the Championship. Up to that point, the data says they had the 26th strongest SOS. Not my argument or opinion, independent data. As I laid it out..... the SOS does vary but in the last ten years they had a top 10 SOS 3 times. They are affiliated with ACC so they are obligated to play a heavy ACC schedule. They aren't going out and trying to schedule a bunch of patsy games. USC is supposed to be a perennial contender and they aren't trying to run away from that match. It seems like the SEC and B10 teams are the ones that are scared to schedule them now.

It is just a hater point to keep pressing when the data clearly says that you are wrong.

Yes, I too would like to play an ACC schedule, 2 service academies and 2 schools from the MAC. Sounds delightful.

 

[FairWarning]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

We aren't the ones trying to get out of one of the all time biggest college football rivalries.

Cancels nothing, you called out USC's schedule knowing your team played two service academies, 2 schools from the MAC, a horrendous Stanford team, Purdue, Virginia and Georgia Tech last year. I took Lincoln Riley's comments to be a shot at ND's schedule more than anything else. Your school has refused to join a conference because the independent schedule benefits them greatly. C'mon, now.

Miami’ was supposed to play ND and rescheduled the game late. I think Arkansas was supposed to play also, rescheduled because of the SEC talk of adding a 9th conference game.

Notre Dame benefits from playing an independent schedule every year and especially now that it's easier to make the playoffs. They were awesome last year and proved themselves in the playoffs but it's not really controversial to believe they have an easier path than schools in the SEC or Big10.

The Big 10 and SEC playoff teams are basically decided by who those teams do not play in the conference.

Personally I wish all of the conferences went back to 10 teams and come up with a system from there.

 

[General Malaise]

I am a hater so I need to ask more neutral fans... is this the most ridiculous answer to give? It makes it hard for me to respect Riley.

"Riley took a question about whether or not he wanted the rivalry to keep going and his answer was essentially, "if we can have easier schedules everywhere else, then yes, we'll play Notre Dame." the answer has been rightfully panned across the internet as yet again coming off as complaining about being in the Big Ten, while that was USC's choice."

I take it as an insult to the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Pac-8 Pac10 Pac-12 and the "difficulty" of their conference schedule.

I took it more as a shot to the weak non-conference teams that the SEC schedule every year, which helps them get into the playoffs. Why should USC schedule that perennial playoff team in ND when it could just schedule teams like Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Eastern Illinois at the end of the year like the SEC does? When the W/L record means more now for Playoff contention, scheduling good teams like ND every year hurts more than it helps. Schedule the lower level teams like the SEC does and you can help bolster your own W/L record, but also those in the rest of the conference. Having the lower teams in the SEC beat these non-P4 teams helps boost their W/L record, which helps them get ranked higher and thus makes the top teams in the SEC look better. Meanwhile, the top teams in the SEC schedule the non-P4 teams to play right at the end of the season which becomes another de-facto bye week for them and also bumps up their W/L record. So if the SEC doesn't want to change how they schedule teams, everyone else will need to adapt to that same scheduling tactic in order to level the playing field.

It would be better if there was one governing body who was in charge of all scheduling in order to level the landscape. But that is too close to an NFL model, and the NCAA won't want that. Plus these non-P4 games raise $$ for those smaller schools to help them keep running, especially now in the revenue sharing and NIL era. These smaller schools will need the money they get from being beat up by the P4 conferences to pay players and keep the lights on in their facilities. It's a vicious cycle.

Maybe that's what Riley should have said, that he doesn't want to schedule ND any more because he wants to help fund and support the smaller non-P4 schools.

Do what now?

The top SEC schools are constantly scheduling OOC games against teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Texas/OU (before they were in the SEC), etc.

Florida plays an annual rivalry game with FSU, who was consitently a top 5 team going into that game for almost 15 years straight at one point.

USC has historically played a good OOC schedule but kicks off with games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern this year. They only have one OOC game scheduled against a D1 opponent.

I haven’t looked at all the schedules, but the SEC schools have 4 out of conference games and usually have 3 patsies with one tough opponent typically, right? Using last season as an example, USC had three out of conference games and played LSU and Notre Dame, with one patsy. I’m pretty sure that is a tougher out of conference schedule than any SEC school had. This year, it’s two patsies and Notre Dame.

But let's also be honest here... I am no SEC fan but they have less patsies in conference than the B10 does. USC's schedule as I reviewed it wasn't a murderers row of games.

A Notre Dame fan bashing any other team's football schedule is just wild man.....

We aren't the ones trying to get out of one of the all time biggest college football rivalries.

Cancels nothing, you called out USC's schedule knowing your team played two service academies, 2 schools from the MAC, a horrendous Stanford team, Purdue, Virginia and Georgia Tech last year. I took Lincoln Riley's comments to be a shot at ND's schedule more than anything else. Your school has refused to join a conference because the independent schedule benefits them greatly. C'mon, now.

Miami’ was supposed to play ND and rescheduled the game late. I think Arkansas was supposed to play also, rescheduled because of the SEC talk of adding a 9th conference game.

Notre Dame benefits from playing an independent schedule every year and especially now that it's easier to make the playoffs. They were awesome last year and proved themselves in the playoffs but it's not really controversial to believe they have an easier path than schools in the SEC or Big10.

The Big 10 and SEC playoff teams are basically decided by who those teams do not play in the conference.

Personally I wish all of the conferences went back to 10 teams and come up with a system from there.

They also have a championship game that an independent college gets to avoid as well.

I'd be up for conference realignment for geographical reasons but that ship has sailed I fear. The current "system" is pretty dumb.

 

[Chadstroma]

Regular season by conference last season for ND.

SEC- I
B10- 3
ACC- 5
MAC- I
Indepedent- I
AAC- I

So.... basically a harder ACC schedule. Team rankings .com has it as the 26th hardest SOS in the nation before the beating Indiana, Georgia and Penn St. The year before that ended at 33rd, then 21st, 7th, 16th, 13th, 9th, 28th, 8th and then 32nd. 10 years of data says you are a hater.

Notre Dame played 2 schools from the MAC last year and lost one of them.

And then they went on and beat two B10 and one SEC team to get to the Championship. Up to that point, the data says they had the 26th strongest SOS. Not my argument or opinion, independent data. As I laid it out..... the SOS does vary but in the last ten years they had a top 10 SOS 3 times. They are affiliated with ACC so they are obligated to play a heavy ACC schedule. They aren't going out and trying to schedule a bunch of patsy games. USC is supposed to be a perennial contender and they aren't trying to run away from that match. It seems like the SEC and B10 teams are the ones that are scared to schedule them now.

It is just a hater point to keep pressing when the data clearly says that you are wrong.

Yes, I too would like to play an ACC schedule, 2 service academies and 2 schools from the MAC. Sounds delightful.

Keep ignoring all the actual data.

 

[General Malaise]

Regular season by conference last season for ND.

SEC- I
B10- 3
ACC- 5
MAC- I
Indepedent- I
AAC- I

So.... basically a harder ACC schedule. Team rankings .com has it as the 26th hardest SOS in the nation before the beating Indiana, Georgia and Penn St. The year before that ended at 33rd, then 21st, 7th, 16th, 13th, 9th, 28th, 8th and then 32nd. 10 years of data says you are a hater.

Notre Dame played 2 schools from the MAC last year and lost one of them.

And then they went on and beat two B10 and one SEC team to get to the Championship. Up to that point, the data says they had the 26th strongest SOS. Not my argument or opinion, independent data. As I laid it out..... the SOS does vary but in the last ten years they had a top 10 SOS 3 times. They are affiliated with ACC so they are obligated to play a heavy ACC schedule. They aren't going out and trying to schedule a bunch of patsy games. USC is supposed to be a perennial contender and they aren't trying to run away from that match. It seems like the SEC and B10 teams are the ones that are scared to schedule them now.

It is just a hater point to keep pressing when the data clearly says that you are wrong.

Yes, I too would like to play an ACC schedule, 2 service academies and 2 schools from the MAC. Sounds delightful.

Keep ignoring all the actual data.

The beautiful thing about data is you can manipulate it however you like. We're both doing that with the same data.