No, Notre Dame Football (still) doesn’t have to join a conference

It’s the age-old discussion: Should Notre Dame football be forced to join a conference? The answer has been no and will continue to be no. Here’s why.

It’s that time of year again, folks: Spring football is over, many questions have been answered, and College Football Playoff projections are full bore. And if you’re a Notre Dame football fan, you are forced to remind your friends as to all the reasons why Notre Dame should remain independent.

But recently, someone made an argument that made me think. That argument: Everyone should play by the same rules.

And I get it. The greatness of college football has to do with the fact that everyone is equal. With certain exceptions, there is a great level of parity among college football teams. That’s what makes it great.

But upon further reflection of that statement, it’s never been more clear that more schools should play by Notre Dame’s rules as opposed to the other way around.

Notre Dame is what’s great about college football. Notre Dame challenges itself in a way that other college football programs refuse to do because a conference schedule holds them back.

While SEC teams play Division I-AA teams like Western Carolina (yes, I’m looking at you Alabama) while convincing the rest of the college football universe that it is the superior conference despite never stepping out of it, Notre Dame surveys the entire college football landscape while playing top teams from multiple conferences. More than that, Notre Dame plays teams from coast to coast.

Would it be better if Notre Dame added an extra game to their slate and by scheduling the Citadel? The University of Dayton? Valpo? Or should the Irish continue to branch out by playing marquee games at Georgia, Michigan, and Stanford? Which sounds more entertaining (aka better for college football) to you?

The bottom line is this: Notre Dame doesn’t play by the same rules as everyone else in college football–Notre Dame’s rules are more difficult.