Notre Dame is undefeated and ranked No. 2, but its favorable schedule and independence are raising serious questions about fairness in the College Football Playoff.
At what point are we going to admit that Notre Dame has one of the biggest advantages in college football?
While SEC and Big Ten programs are forced to battle through brutal conference schedules, the Fighting Irish get to handpick their opponents every single season.
And somehow, they’re rewarded with one of the easiest paths to the College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame currently sits at 6-0 and No. 2 in the AP Poll, but take a closer look at its schedule.
The Fighting Irish have defeated Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina, and Stanford. Their latest victory was a 58-7 beatdown of Stanford, a program that hasn’t exactly established itself as a national powerhouse.
Sure, Marcus Freeman deserves credit for building an outstanding football team. Notre Dame is averaging 44 points per game while allowing just 11.
But why should Notre Dame receive the same consideration as programs surviving the SEC and Big Ten every Saturday?
Georgia has already faced Alabama on the road. Ohio State has already face is preparing to face Indiana in a massive top-five matchup. Meanwhile, SEC programs regularly face multiple ranked opponents throughout conference play.
Notre Dame doesn’t have those same weekly obligations.
The Irish still have challenging games against No. 8 BYU and No. 3 Miami, along with No. 24 SMU. But they also get Navy, Boston College, and Syracuse.
And here’s the biggest issue.
Notre Dame doesn’t even have to play in a conference championship game.
While other playoff contenders risk another loss against an elite opponent in December, Notre Dame gets to sit at home and watch.
The Irish cannot receive a top-four playoff seed under the current 12-team format, but their independence still allows them to avoid the additional physical demands and potential résumé damage of a conference championship.
Nobody is suggesting Notre Dame isn’t talented enough to compete for a national championship. The Fighting Irish have proven they’re capable of beating excellent teams.
But talent and fairness are two completely different conversations.
If Notre Dame wants to be treated like the SEC and Big Ten’s elite programs, maybe it’s time to start playing by the same rules.
Because right now, Notre Dame gets to enjoy the benefits of college football’s biggest stage without facing all the same obstacles.
