It isn’t that strong in my opinion, and it requires Texas A&M and USC to essentially win their conference or at least make the championship.
Undefeated, yes!!! 12 team playoff.
Just wait until the playoffs are expanded to 16.
Notre Dame is in every year unless they prove otherwise.
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If 5 of those spots goes to the 4 Power Conference Champions + Highest ranked G5 Champion, that leaves 7 spots left for any at larges which likely includes the losers of the SEC and Big Ten Championship games. That’s 5 spots left.
2 or 3 of those spots are gonna go to SEC schools, and the same can be said for 2 or 3 more Big Ten schools. That’s also assuming the Big 12 doesn’t have more than 1 team in the CFP.
I don’t know… I just don’t see it. Notre Dame got quite the boost in the coaches poll rankins. One slip up and it’s over.
If Notre Dame goes 11-1 or 12-0, theyre in…Thats just the way it is…But its a BAD schedule…Their affiliation with ACC creates strength of schedule problems for them… not playing Clemson, SMU, Miami or North Carolina this year is a problem for them. …and what are they doing playing 2 MAC schools? Where’s Michigan and Wisconsin and Miami of Florida and Penn state? Where are the SEC and Texas schools they used to play?
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Yes…they only have to get to #12…no longer top 4
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Follow the money
Notre Dame in the playoff = high ratings = $$$
Its the reason why they fudged our spot vs UT
UT in the playoff = more money than UH winning that game
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Even Notre Dame’s worst teams get consideration until the very end. All of this is because of the Big 10’s discrimination 120 years ago.
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They play 4 preseason T-25 teams so I’d say it’s a solid P4 schedule. 10-2 could get them in the playoff if the teams on the slate live up to their respective expectations. 11-1+ and they should be a lock.
Edit: didnt notice they were only playing 11 games. I’d definitely give them a knock for that but 11-0 they’re a lock and 10-1 they likely still get in because of how big of a draw they are. Not saying that’s right but if there’s one thing we’ve learned from realignment, it’s that the sport literally revolves around money.
YES!!!
And here’s why.
First of all, with MAC schools, service academies, and some of the weaker ACC programs like Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Stanford on the schedule, plus Purdue and aTm, they will probably be favored in at least 9 games, and will likely win 10 or more.
Second of all, if they do win 10 or more, then there is NO WAY the CFP keeps them out, simply because ND is such a huge TV ratings draw that the CFP knows that they won’t be maximizing their value without them.
So mark my word…if ND has 10 or more wins, which is VERY possible with this schedule, then they are in.
That said, we need to ALL be ND fans in week one…and hope that they put a WHOPPIN’ on aTm at home!
A&M, FSU, and USC will be ranked.
Good chance they can get 10 wins.
Yeah…the schedule the OP posted is actually a VERY TOUGH schedule.
Texas A&M (solid with a new coach but good recruits)
Florida State (undefeated champion last season)
USC (always tough)
Louisville (great season last year)
Plus A BUNCH of other P4 schools
Purdue
Stanford
Georgia Tech
Virginia
Who has a tougher schedule than that? Maybe a few SEC schools?
PLUS…they started them as #5…so they only have to maintain
About those last 4 P4 schools you mentioned. Not sure I’d be hanging my hat on those 4 schools for SOS.
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I mean our schedule is tougher (at least on paper). 12 games instead of 11. 10 P4 opponents instead of 9. 5 ranked teams instead of 4. 6 road games instead of four. And both of G5 opps are coming off winning seasons while only one of NDs is.
But it’s still a good schedule. Comparable imo to a schedule from one of the ranked ACC or B12 teams.
Didn’t someone say WE have a top 10 hardest schedule?
Our schedule features Oklahoma and Utah.
Theirs has The ACC champ, the ACC runner up, a tough SEC Texas A&M program and the best football school in California (B1G)
Plus
those 4 other P4 brands I listed.
We’re not talking about the UH schedule, we’re talking about the ND schedule.
Add to the four bottom feeders in Purdue, Stanford, Virginia and Georgia Tech, you’re adding perennial powerhouses NIU and Miami (Ohio not Florida.)
Southern Cal is not Pete Carrol’s Southern Cal. Jury is still out. After playing a B1G schedule, let’s see what they have left in the tank at Thanksgiving.
They ought be able to roll the ball out on the field and win 6 games.
Actually speaking of USC, they’ve got a brutal schedule.
LSU in Vegas
Utah St
@Michigan
Wisconsin
@Minnesota
Penn St.
@Maryland
Rutgers
@Washington
Nebraska
@UCLA
ND
4 teams in the T-12 of the preseason Coaches Poll. And 11 P4 teams on their schedule. Pretty stout.
Both UH and ND are Power Schools so comparing the schedules is valid.
Both are competing for am At Large spot in the playoff so comparing the SOS definitely counts.
ND starts with the higher ranking and whether they have an easier, or tougher schedule, is open for debate.
As I said, ND will be favored in at least 9 of those games. Could easily win 10.
And if they do, then there’s NO WAY they get left out of the CFP, given their ratings potential.
But those wins also mean that A&M, USC, and FSU have to win as well. Perhaps FSU runs the ACC, but it FSU runs the ACC, then that poses a challenge for ND.
If A&M and USC end up being middle of the road, then that doesn’t really do ND any good even if ND wins.
You’re talking about a top-heavy SEC all playing each other in gauntlet matchups week in week out. I just don’t see how ND’s schedule matches an SEC schedule even if ND goes undefeated. ND literally has to go undefeated. Even 1 slip up and it’s over with in my opinion (this assumes the 3 mentions matchups are teams that also do well)
You also have the Big Ten and Big 12.