TerryD
Scout Team
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- Apr 10, 2013
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I just read an article on another site that basically states that the CFB Playoff will redefine what it means to be an elite program.
So, let's say that its 2022, and you are Notre Dame and you have yet to crack the code to make the college football playoff. Substitute Texas or UCLA or Michigan for that matter. If you don't reach the Final Four, you are not elite. No matter that your history says. Seems about right.
ND has always been elite in their own minds. And they have a great historical "argument." (personally, I don't like ND, but I do admire their status in CFB).
But 8-10 years into this CFB playoff, no one else is going to be sharing that view if ND keeps "missing" with various 1-, 2- or 3-loss seasons. The criteria has changed and ND is going to have to adapt. Get in the Final Four or else you lose status as an Elite Program.
That is why I was really bummed ND lost that heartbreaker to Stanford 2 weeks ago. If the Irish had won the game, yet missed the CFB playoff (likely they would have still ranked behind OU) with just one loss (to #1 Clemson by 2 points), that would have essentially kick started the process of ND self reflection.
Would ND have joined the ACC in 2016? No way, of course not. But if they have 2-3 close misses in a decade and get excluded from the playoff each time, they'll suddenly realize that independence ain't all its cracked up to be. Especially when the college football pundits begin to laugh at, as opposed to lauding, their independence.
And what of the multitude of other college football programs, in conferences, that will never even sniff a playoff berth, ever?
Are none of them "elite programs", even if members of a P5 conference?
Texas, Michigan or UCLA to use your examples? Michigan has won 1/2 a title in the last sixty some years.
What are they? Non-elite, it seems. There is apparently no advantage to them to be a conference member.
Pundits? Wow. I cannot imagine anyone caring what any of them have to say, ever, about anything.
I have never heard of a weaker reason to do anything.
Anyway, ND is not joining a football conference.
Until ND moves its next two basketball home games to MSG I wish we never played them in basketball.
ND should be kicked out of the ACC and go play in the Big East with their fellow Catholic schools. They didn't want to stay with them even though in the Big East era they always sided with the BB onlies. The 5 games can go away. I have absolutely nothing good to say about Notre Dame.
Sorry, but this is message board fan fantasy that has about zero chance of even being considered by the ACC in the real world.
The ACC is still a shaky conference and is in no position of power to issue any ultimatums to anyone. So, I don't see any chance of such a thing being directed towards ND by the conference.
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