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 8:29 PM ^
There is zero benefit to us scheduling ND. It helps them more than it helps us.
Also, we play OSU every year and we are their #1 circled game.
We play MSU every year and we are their #1 circled game.
When we play Minnesota we are either their #2 or #3 game.
Most of the BigTen teams we play have us in their top 3 games they care about.
We don't need to add Notre Dame and be their #2 or possibly #1 circled game.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:10 PM ^
Last time I looked, $60mil is less than $75mil. Is "football independence" truly worth $15mil? Either way, once OSU beats them by 20 next month, following our 31 point beatdown in 2019, I doubt they'll want anything to do with the non-Indiana portion of the B1G.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:12 PM ^
$15 Mil to remain their independent status is a STEAL to the ND faithful.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:22 PM ^
The parameter I’m thinking of is - the ND deal with NBC is in the “mid 20’s” today. They’re asking for a threefold increase. Obviously, the value of the media agreements is increasing - but, three fold? I’m not sure about that.
August 16th, 2022 at 7:45 PM ^
I believe that (at least at one time) ND was incentivized to stay Independant because it afforded them the ability to play on public tv across the entire country. Nationwide broadcasts in an era where only a few teams were on tv each week. Before cable and before being able to stream every game your team plays, that was a mammoth recruiting advantage to be able to tell kids that they would be on national tv that much. No other program has a deal like that. No one. But these days, that advantage is long gone. And if they can make more $$$ as part of a conference, then I think it’s only a matter of time before they join up. Losing money to have a non-exclusive tv deal with NBC makes no sense.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:11 PM ^
The only way ND gives up it's independent status is if there is no path to a Championship/Playoff. I would welcome them to the B1G as an EQUAL partner with open arms. Or prefer they be cut loose entirely from any relationship at all. The days of accommodating and enabling ND (my lifetime) need to end quickly.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:18 PM ^
H2V, I think as long as ND plays five ACC teams annually, ND needs to compete, through the ACC CCG for the CFP.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:33 PM ^
Amazin we agree - Will the ACC survive if FOX/B1G and ABC/SEC form the mega-conferences and assimilate?
I would prefer the B1G force ND's hand and take away any leverage ND affords in giving ND time. Not allowing for an expanded CFP until FOX can get in the picture seems a move in that direction. Cut off all ties with ND starting 2023 (USC/UCLA merger) and be proactive moving forward.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:51 PM ^
H2V, what I find ironic is… all this conference realignment began with… the ACC raiding and breaking up the Big East.
FWIW, I’m old school. I liked the Big 10, the PAC-8 /10, when the Rose Bowl really was special - the Granddaddy of them all. Money has changed college athletics - the genie is out of the bottle - and, we don’t have “Superman like” qualities, or a souped up Delorean - to turn back time.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:01 PM ^
I think the ACC raid of the Big East in hindsight was more of a merger - 5 old big east schools are in the ACC, with a 6th from the late big east (L'Ville). WVU got screwed, Temple got kicked out, and somehow Rutgers ended up being even better off in the Big Ten. I think really, it started with ND signing with NBC and breaking the CFA, leading to the end of major independents outside of themself - the expansion of the ACC, Big Ten, SEC, formation of the Big East and C-USA. @NittanyFan pointed this out to me in a thread some time back.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:19 PM ^
I don't really see the value to UM scheduling ND unless they can make sure they don't get saddled with a tough cross-division schedule in conference as well and too many tough road games. For ND my guess is their schedule will be harder to fill as USC (for example) may not want to schedule a game that late in the year if they're also chasing Big 10 conference title shots, but we'll see.
I'm fine if ND wants to remain independent but it's clear they want to do so because of some weird pride element and not because it makes any financial or athletic sense.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^
If we get rid of divisions, then I'm all for it. A yearly lineup of PSU, OSU, MSU, ND, and regularly Wisconsin is fun for the sport but bad for Michigan's trophy case.
August 16th, 2022 at 7:51 PM ^
If ND were to join, I think it would be most logical to put them in the West, along with USC (rival) and UCLA (rival). We would play them in crossover games but not regularly.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:21 PM ^
Meh.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:25 PM ^
To hell with Notre Dame. Would be fine if we never played them again. We don't need them.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:26 PM ^
I'm so sick of ND. I wish some of the big conferences would start to freeze them out on football scheduling. If they aren't interested in being in a conference I wouldn't have teams play them. They would be less relevant if they didn't have OSU, USC and Clemson to play. I would love to see them struggle to get big games so it would force their hand in joining a conference.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:34 PM ^
I'm sick of them too. That deal they worked with the ACC where they're a "sort of" part-time member was always embarrassing. You're either a full member of a conference or you're not. Stop making special accommodations for Notre Dame. And take away that contract from NBC. They didn't deserve it 30 years ago and they don't deserve it now.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^
On the one hand, looking at our non-con this year and really missing the ND series, I'd welcome this. on the other hand, I'm hoping '22 and '23 are a glitch and I really really hope ND doesn't mean no more UW/OU/UT. As far as their independence, I don't have the hate for it I used to. I'm pretty meh on the super conferences and meh on whatever it is they're doing.
So overall...meh
August 16th, 2022 at 6:02 PM ^
I am curious about the Oklahoma and Texas games. They join the SEC in 2025 at the latest, and I could see one of them backing out of this game too as I would imagine the SEC is going to give them some pretty challenging matchups in their first two years. And it still remains to be seen if the SEC will move to nine conference games.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:36 PM ^
To hell with ND, have all Big Ten teams stop scheduling them till they join the Big Ten
August 16th, 2022 at 2:38 PM ^
In my mind Notre Dame's greatest sin is pride. As long as they persist in that sinful behavior Michigan should not play them.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:40 PM ^
I'd rather we just not play them. This is annoying.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
TO HELL WITH NOTRE DAME!!
(sorry. Got here late)
August 16th, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^
From another article I read:
A source close to the situation believes that the soonest preferred date for Notre Dame to schedule Michigan is during the 2029 season. Failing that, university officials would instead push for a 2041 date, citing the desire for an "optimal confluence of events."
August 16th, 2022 at 2:53 PM ^
If I were Michigan I would tell Notre Dame to get fucked. THEY wanted out and now they only want us back to benefit themselves?
See you in 11 years.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:55 PM ^
That's great because now a really big national audience will be able to watch Michigan trounce those slappies from South Bend!
August 16th, 2022 at 2:57 PM ^
Speculation on Ourand's part.
August 16th, 2022 at 2:59 PM ^
I’d like the hardest schedule possible for our team. The impossible crucible will sharpen them to a razor’s edge with experience.
If players get hurt, send in backups. If backups get hurt, the water boy needs some reps. By water boy’s senior season, he’ll be an experienced veteran.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:14 PM ^
Not sure if serious. If you are serious, how about no.
The hardest schedule possible = the highest likelihood of the worst W/L.
The worst W/L = worst recruiting outlook.
Wins = recruits.
Please stop thinking we're Alabama.
August 16th, 2022 at 4:18 PM ^
I'm pretty sure the downvoter missed the sarcasm
August 16th, 2022 at 3:02 PM ^
THWND
August 16th, 2022 at 3:05 PM ^
Going back a few years, I thought Penn State would be the team to beat to win the Big Ten. This was when Penn State joined the conference.
And, I’m pretty sure Nebraska thought they’d win the B1G West every year, and the conference - probably two out of three years.
My point. The B1G is a pretty solid conference - and, though there are stronger and weaker teams -you need to be prepared every Saturday. PSU was a solid, NC winning - independent - before they joined the B1G. How many B1G titles has PSU won? How about Nebraska?
August 16th, 2022 at 3:10 PM ^
No thanks. We'll have plenty of A list games without them, especially with USC/UCLA in the fold. I like winning the conference and getting into the dance.
Playing OSU and Penn State and being MSU's super bowl ever year, means adding USC or UCLA is plenty good enough for me. A balance of cupcake games are an important part of the annual diet.
ND can have fun playing MSU, Stanford, USC and Clemson.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
Given the limited number of games, I'd rather schedule interesting home-and-homes than play ND. ND to me is the clear #3 rival to us and I'd much rather see series with teams like UCLA, OU, Texas, Washington, etc
August 16th, 2022 at 3:12 PM ^
ND’s independence is a challenge for the CFP.
It seems most conferences have a Conference Championship Game (CCG). As it stands today, ND will never play in one of those.
My solution? The ACC AD’s vote after the last regular season game - and select two teams. The candidates are: 1) Atlantic Division winner, 2) Coastal Division winner, and 3) ND. You pick two of those three.
Playing five teams from the ACC in a season should be enough to tell whether “they belong” in the CCG.
August 16th, 2022 at 4:18 PM ^
Respectfully disagree. If Notre Dame is playing for a conference championship, then join the damn conference like everybody else.
August 16th, 2022 at 4:46 PM ^
Maizinator, I don’t think we disagree that much. My view is - ND should go through the same structure - CCG - as other conference teams do. And, that means - the ACC. ND should not get a “bye” from playing in a CCG because they are independent.
IMO, ND “made their bed” with the ACC, and - they should sleep in it for a while, ideally - beyond the end of their contract with NBC - and, specifically, until the ACC GoR expires in 2034 / 2035.
August 16th, 2022 at 8:10 PM ^
I get where you are coming from. It just gets under my skin that Notre Dame wants to have the benefits of a conference without any of the actual responsibilities or commitments that go along with joining a conference.
They are the embodiment of the entitled asshole that wants to cut in line because he thinks he's better than everyone else and is late for his tee time.
August 17th, 2022 at 7:46 AM ^
Great point - and, one I strongly agree with.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:18 PM ^
the fig things suck and south bend is a shithole
screw them
August 16th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
EDIT
August 16th, 2022 at 4:48 PM ^
And, you may wonder why ND isn’t a member of the AAU. I think English and Literature is one of their strongest academic departments - and, it shows.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
I really dislike that ND gets to strut as ultra patriotic because they schedule 3 usually very easy games that happen to be the service academies.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
I do not like Notre Dame. I would like UM to play them frequently and to kick there asses. I am not afraid of a tough schedule.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:33 PM ^
If Notre Dame is trying to hold on to independence, it's hard to see what they think the endgame is in a world where the SEC and BIG are gobbling up college football.
Notre Dame has a lot going for it, but there is a point where the world moves on without them. As we are fond of saying... to hell with them. I'm OK with a world where Notre Dame is no longer invited to the big party.
I see no reason why the BIG needs to add relevance to Notre Dame's schedule (and TV deal) even if there is near term monetary gain, unless there is a plan in place that is ultimately bringing them on board.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:44 PM ^
We should never accommodate ND again! I believe that unless they join the B1G soon we should opt out of the 2033 game as soon as the contract allows, the same way they did to DB in 2012. To Hell with Notre Dame! If they wish to remain independent, they should not get the benefit of playing against B1G teams.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^
I guess I'm in the minority here. I hate ND, but I wish UM still played them annually. Some of the best memories of UM football I have are of past ND games. For some reason, that game always stuck out more to me as a kid. I get that playing good teams isn't good for the trophy case, but I like watching good football games. I'd much rather watch a good UM/ND matchup than UM vs whatever directional school that got paid $1M to get shit stomped.
August 16th, 2022 at 4:08 PM ^
When I was a kid the MSU game was mostly a guaranteed win so the two biggest games on the schedule were always OSU followed by ND, so I agree. But they spurned us and the B1G enough times I think we (UM and B1G as a whole) should actively try to screw them over in football. Join the SEC or eff off into obscurity.
August 16th, 2022 at 7:43 PM ^
KC, ND - Michigan games were “father - son” road-trips for a friend of mine (an ND alum) - with his son, and me with my son. It was a fun foursome, and we’ve done it since the boys were in kindergarten. Our sons are rising sophomores in college. - and best friends. A lot of great memories - with a game or two that I’d rather forget.