ND Likely to Schedule Michigan Sooner than Planned
Per Sports Business Journal's John Ourand, the recent Big Ten TV deal with NBC likely means Notre Dame will stay independent. Ourand also notes that ND is likely to resume its rivalry with Michigan sooner than currently scheduled (link to article):
What the Big Ten deal means for Notre Dame
Notre Dame gets around $25 million per year from its current NBC deal, which runs through 2025. Sources say the school should expect around $60 million per year from a new contract -- though it’s hard to predict how the media business will look three years from now.
There had been speculation that Notre Dame could command a rights fee upward of $75 million per year when it renegotiates its new contract. That’s because it fills its schedule with games -- like its long-standing rivalry with Navy -- that traditionally bring in lower ratings.
Obviously, Notre Dame would remain independent if it agrees to a new rights deal. But its association with NBC -- and NBC’s new association with the Big Ten -- make it likely that the Fighting Irish would add more Big Ten games to its schedule.
In other words, expect a return of Notre Dame’s rivalry with Michigan before 2033, which is when they are next scheduled to meet. The two last played in 2019. This season, Notre Dame has one Big Ten school (Ohio State) and one soon-to-be Big Ten school (USC) on its schedule.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:52 PM ^
Interesting article, but seems thinly sourced and mostly speculative. I really can't see us scheduling them regularly until we're done with our Texas/OU home and homes and our return trip to UW. I suppose we could cancel those games but I hope we don't.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:25 PM ^
This is the guy that first broke the news that ESPN was likely to lose the Big Ten, before they decided to be out of the running
August 16th, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^
Reporting on what you’re hearing about a TV deal from actual sources is pretty different than speculating about potential matchups.
He isn’t citing any actual information about ND-UM other than it makes sense for ND to schedule more B1G games.
In reality, we can also speculate that since ND is losing their exclusive deal with NBC. It makes sense for them to JOIN the B1G. Having NBC all to themselves was a big deal to them in recent rounds of expansion according to some. Not wanting to leave their deal with NBC and be stuck sharing the wealth/limelight from another network. If NBC wants to capitalize on B1G vs ND games, they better pressure ND into joining.
August 16th, 2022 at 4:32 PM ^
Agreed. I don't think the logic some of these guys are using for NBC getting some of the rights to the Big 10 helping Notre Dame's independent deal holds any more water than some of those who speculated the exact opposite a few days ago.
Do we even know if NBC makes any money on Notre Dame at $25m a year?
August 17th, 2022 at 1:27 PM ^
I don't actually know how broadcast networks make money in general. Like, I know it's advertising, and more eyeballs drives higher advertising, whereas on cable/peacock there's additionally subscription fees. I'm actually super curious about this in general tho. It's great the Big Ten is on broadcast for 3 games now. How does a game on ESPN compare to a game on ABC for disney, not for eyeballs but for revenues? Are sports leagues ever willing to take a cut in revenue for increased exposure?
August 16th, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
Exactly, this is super speculative. However, I could imagine NBC saying to B1G that they will increase their rights offer if they get the ability to schedule ND against B1G majors like OSU, PSU, M, MSU, UW, etc.
August 16th, 2022 at 5:42 PM ^
I think it is the other way around. NBC probably telling ND they need better inventory to get the TV contract they want. ND only has the rights to their home games, and one guaranteed marquee rivalry game every year on their schedule, USC (usually in October when at ND). I think NBC execs want them to bring Michigan back for September as another rivalry game in alternating years with USC at home so NBC would be guaranteed to have one of those games every year. Michigan would have to agree, and I hope we tell them to join the conference or kick rocks.
August 16th, 2022 at 7:26 PM ^
L&B, one thing that NBC was looking for was “shoulder programming” around the ND schedule.
What I will find interesting to follow is - how often will ND play at night. I believe the agreement is - Fox with the noon game. CBS with the afternoon - 3:30 pm ET. And, NBC with the night game.
i assume ND would like evening games - especially against their marquee opponents - such as USC, or this season - Clemson, to spread their brand and attract a larger audience.
August 16th, 2022 at 9:22 PM ^
The agreement, the way I understood it at least, is that Fox gets first pick, CBS gets second pick, then NBC.
Now, CBS wants to fill that 3:30 slot so that’s always going to be that game. Fox has the Big Noon Kickoff, however that game isn’t always played at noon. So that’s where you’ll see a bit of flexibility. NBC similarly can fill whatever slot they want with their game, including competing with Fox and CBS at either of their respective slots. Assuming ND remains independent, that’s another thing NBC has to work around.
Maybe I got that completely wrong, but that’s the what I took from it.
August 16th, 2022 at 6:17 PM ^
Agree, but I can't help but wonder if Texas and/or OU will cancel with us know that they're in the SEC. They might want to decrease the difficultly of their schedule now.
August 16th, 2022 at 7:22 PM ^
We all know that the majority of SEC teams don’t play OOC games outside of the “local geography”. When Texas and OU join the SEC, officially, I’m sure Sankey will want to speak with their AD’s about scheduling.
August 19th, 2022 at 2:10 AM ^
Agreed. Came here to say the same.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:52 PM ^
yay they're independent etc etc
B1G should collectively boycott them until they join (it seems logical to have them in the fold with someone like Stanford)
also to Hell with Notre Dame
August 16th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
Amen. I am sick of their unwarranted arrogance. No reason to accommodate their independence by giving them the occasional attractive game to keep their typically awful schedule that virtually guarantees them 8-9 wins looking better than it is. To hell with ND.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:49 PM ^
Yea. Nobody like a program with arrogance.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:53 PM ^
And some teams hate other teams that play in the snow.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:10 PM ^
we're ok with being hated
August 16th, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^
We're not arrogant.
We're just better.
August 16th, 2022 at 9:18 PM ^
I thought it was
“we’re arrogant…..and we should be”
August 16th, 2022 at 4:30 PM ^
You're absolutely right. That's why everyone hates the "We're gonna hang a hundred on 'em" suckeyes.
Guess we should start calling them the 27-percenters.
"He who lives in a glass house..."
August 16th, 2022 at 4:33 PM ^
Be nice. :)
August 16th, 2022 at 5:50 PM ^
There are around 100 ways to celebrate beating such a program.
August 16th, 2022 at 6:21 PM ^
42-27
August 16th, 2022 at 2:27 PM ^
I mean, if I were an ND fan and put aside the fun of the rivalry to only focus on success for ND, I would hate to play Michigan and/or MSU regularly.
You recruit well and get national hype every year that is mostly deserved and reinforced because you get to play most of your schedule against the dregs of the ACC and a couple PAC schools that are a shell of their former selves.
This year they'll get beat up by Ohio State and will be in a rock fight against Clemson, maybe Lincoln will have USC humming by the end of November (he should imo), but it's not hard to see them at around 9/10 wins.
August 16th, 2022 at 8:16 PM ^
Yes. Let Notre Dame be "independent," we don't need them. Don't schedule them and let them go to the ACC or SEC.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^
On the flip side, fineebottom said that ND ranked in the top 5 is a joke... so not EVERYONE loves ND 24/7.
I hope Freeman is their Brady Hoke. Lots of crying and "its perfect" and "meant to be" and great recruiting.. and then shit on the field. I'm not knocking Brady as a person, just wasn't good enough for Michigan.
Weird that Brian Kelly had an amazing run of success at ND, and they're now like.. "nooowwww we're really gona be good".. its really hard to get success and then sustain it anywhere. 5 guys can do it and even they falter (e.g. dabo). Theyll have their share of wins, but in the end 9-3 is still 9-3.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:25 PM ^
I agree about ND maybe underrating the Kelly era. I think the guy was awful as a human being but from 2010-2021 (his 12-year run) he won 74% of his games and generally raised ND to consistent top-10/15 team. In the 12 years before he arrived (basically from Bob Davie to Ty Willingham to Charlie Weiss) they won 57% of their games. Freeman is probably better than those guys as a coach...but it's certainly not a given.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
He sucks, but Brian Kelly wins games. I am wishing all Marcus Freeman a very Texas A&M Jimbo team.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:57 PM ^
As a counter to this - Kelly was a good coach, and much better than what was there before. But he had 4 wins over top ten teams - 2 of whom didn't finish the season ranked at all - and 1 win against a top 5 team (against Clemson in 2020) in 12 seasons. In 7 seasons, Harbaugh has 1 top 5 win and 3 top 10 wins - including a memorable win over Brian Kelly in 2019.
Kelly was a good coach - but he managed to miss Clemson in the regular season until the COVID year. He further benefited from ND not playing Michigan, USC being down, Stanford returning to earth, and playing an ACC schedule. And even on that, he doesn't exactly look better than Harbaugh. Harbaugh is a good coach - but people comparing Kelly to Rockne are looking at stats without context. It's like comparing Harbaugh to Yost because they both had a 12 win season.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
Bronx, what’s more important these days - offense or defense?
The rules seem to favor the offense. Higher scoring games. When was the last “10-10” tie, or “12-10” score?
Kelly, IMO, was more offensively minded. Freeman seems more on the defensive side of the ball - and looking at his background, it doesn’t seem as if he’s ever held an offensive coaching position - at any level.
So, unless the ND D can hold teams to a “low score”, their offense is going to need to step up.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:59 PM ^
Well, there was this offensive gem, or was that too long ago for you?
August 16th, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
Damn. I swear I don't remember anything about that classic except mild frustration and the weather was partly sunny.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:31 PM ^
Yo, I was there, and actually met the parents of some Rutgers players - over dinner - after the game.
But, your point is very fair - and, complements another comment I made. Even the weaker teams in the B1G can put up a pretty good fight. In addition to Rutgers, the game in Lincoln was a bit challenging too.
August 16th, 2022 at 5:33 PM ^
Last season was a great coaching job by Harbaugh and the staff. The team (the offense) got much better as the season progressed.
I am all for freezing ND out of the high profile games and letting them have scraps if they want to be independent.
August 17th, 2022 at 1:45 AM ^
Anything can happen in a rivalry game. /s
August 16th, 2022 at 3:19 PM ^
Unfortunately, a 9-3 ND is more attractive than a 9-3 Oklahoma State (etcetera), and we all know it. The poster above who notes that getting walloped a few times a year by the good teams and then trying to slither into the playoff anyway (only to get walloped again) is ND's strategy has it right. If they want to join the B1G and be another school in the league--earning their way like everyone else--let them join and duke it out. If not, I'm all for crushing them like a bug, now, later, and forever.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
Brian Kelly is a good football coach. Because of his temper, and newfound Southern accent, he doesn't get the credit he deserves. You can't find one HC stop of his where the program did not ascend under him. Yes, ND got curbstomped on the big stage, but at least he got them there multiple times.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:57 PM ^
They need us more than we need them.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:13 PM ^
Boogie, when ND joins a conference - they really have one choice - and that choice is the B1G.
Do you think ND alumni will relish an alignment with the SEC? ND values it’s academic rigor - and, an association, or schedule - for both academic and societal reasons - with leading schools like Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Arkansas, etc. - well, I don’t think it would be desirable for their alumni.
August 16th, 2022 at 5:53 PM ^
I don't think the SEC is an option in its current form. I could see maybe ND joining if the SEC were to add Virginia and UNC. But given the current conference rosters, I only see the Big Ten and ACC as options for ND.
August 16th, 2022 at 7:35 PM ^
L&B, I agree that the two options are the B1G and the ACC. However, what I’m inferring is - the ACC media agreement will not be as lucrative as the B1G or SEC’s. Part two is - the Grant of Rights - which is in place until 2034 or 2035 - over a decade away.
The ACC is at great risk of becoming irrelevant in football - very quickly. Right now, I think the perception is - Clemson and everyone else. Maybe Miami or FSU can step up somehow. The conference needs more quality teams, and needs them fast.
ND is already “in” the ACC for everything except football and hockey. And, the schools fit the profile ND would desire - strong academics and solid athletics.
Will ND wait a bit more than a decade? Will the ACC survive as a conference - until the GoR concludes? Will a few schools break away from the ACC? If so, who leaves when?
August 16th, 2022 at 2:01 PM ^
Nah, fuck that. Notre Dame shouldn't get to schedule more B1G games and have the luxury to schedule more B1G games. Either join the B1G or continue with your weak ass independent schedule
August 16th, 2022 at 3:58 PM ^
I'll second this motion...all in favor say aye
August 16th, 2022 at 2:04 PM ^
booo. boycott until they join the conference.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:08 PM ^
To hell with Notre Dame. We kicked the shit out of them in 2019 - if they are ready for more of the same, they know where to find us.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:20 PM ^
I loved that game in 2019. However, I could have done an even better job with my rain gear.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:09 PM ^
Will this help our recruiting and NIL endeavors?
August 16th, 2022 at 3:33 PM ^
Curious about that are we?
August 16th, 2022 at 8:30 PM ^
By George, I think I see what you did there. Quite curious.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:09 PM ^
I can see why ND would wanna schedule UM (or other big10 team) but not sure i see the benefit to UM.