Building the Perfect Notre Dame Football Schedule

The Irish football schedule is always a hot topic of discussion between both Notre Dame fans and Notre Dame critics.

So what does the perfect Notre Dame schedule look like? Ask people and you will probably receive 5 different answers. However, I think this is actually relatively cut and dry, and something most Notre Dame fans would agree with.

For what it is worth, I love playing teams from each conference on a regular basis. It is a great way to spread out top notch games, but at the same time, in my perfect schedule this eliminates that from discussion. I value rivalries, and overall, I believe Notre Dame does do. If it were 100 percent up the university, Michigan State and Purdue would still be on the schedule every season.

Here is what the schedule should be like every season broken into 4 groups:

Group 1: The Mainstays

USC, Stanford, Navy, Purdue

These four teams should be on the schedule every year. Three of them are already, and Purdue was on the schedule every year from 1946-2014. It is an in-state game that both fan bases love and should be able to enjoy on an annual basis.

The other three are self-explanatory. When Notre Dame broke the Purdue, Michigan State and Michigan yearly contracts, these three remained. USC is Notre Dame’s biggest and best rivalry. Stanford has turned into a great battle between two of the top academic/athletic programs from separate parts of the country — not to mention the recruiting battles. And Navy, regardless of what the fans want, will not be removed — nor should it be.

Group 2: Battle in Michigan

Michigan State, Michigan (Every other year)

Two teams that used to be on the schedule every season. With the new landscape of college football and Notre Dame’s schedule, it is nearly impossible nor practical to play both every season. Easy solution — rotate them both. One year play Michigan, and the next play Michigan State. Not only do you keep two of your top regional rivals on the schedule on a regular basis, but Michigan is a key recruiting territory for the Irish. This should not only keep the Notre Dame faithful that want to play these two teams happy, but also the fans of Michigan and Michigan State. For what it is worth, I have always felt Michigan State is a more important rivalry if you ask the Notre Dame administration.

Group 3: The ACC with Stipulations

Get over it. Notre Dame has a deal with the ACC, and that won’t and shouldn’t change. For those of you who think it should be with the Big Ten, in this proposal Notre Dame is already playing 2 Big Ten teams every year anyway.

If am making the Irish football schedule, I would keep the 5 games per year deal with the ACC, but I would also force the hand of them a little bit. Boston College should be on the schedule every season. Just like Stanford-Notre Dame is a great battle of academic and athletic institutions, Boston College-Notre Dame is the battle of the only two Catholic universities who play football at the FBS level. I think that is an important rivalry to see every year.

I would also make it mandatory to play one of Clemson and Florida State every season. Florida State is down right now, but typically speaking, both of these programs are the very best of the ACC. The ACC and Notre Dame should want one of these two teams played annually.

For the remaining three ACC games, simply rotate them however best.

Group 4: Two Randoms

Every big time college program will have “cupcakes” on the schedule. In Notre Dame’s case, that means non-Power 5, but not FCS. Ball State, Bowling Green, New Mexico, etc. are all recent examples. I like that Notre Dame tries to play former coaches, and I would keep that alive depending on the program. However, there is no reason Notre Dame should be exempt from playing non-Power 5 schools every year, just like everyone else. If Notre Dame wanted to include the occasional Power 5 team in here as well, I would have no issue.

Does this eliminate Notre Dame from playing the Big 12 and SEC? Most of the time, but with USC, Stanford, Florida State/Clemson, Michigan State/Michigan on the slate every year, there should be no complaints about the strength of schedule, especially considering five more Power 5 teams (nine total) would be played at a minimum every season. This is the perfect way to supplement playing your rivals and creating a competitive schedule, while also not allowing for too difficult of a schedule that would make it nearly impossible to qualify for the College Football Playoff.