2019 is the Real Argument Against Notre Dame Being Independent

Is being independent really worth it for Notre Dame?

Notre Dame, the Grandfather of traditional powers, won 10 games in 2019. They will also not be going to a New Year’s Six game this season. Instead, they’ll be headed towards a middle-tiered bowl game.

There’s nothing wrong with that. The players will still play hard, as they did in the 2018 Citrus Bowl. The game will matter to them, even if it doesn’t particularly matter for fans. It’s a frustrating situation for fans.

A 10-2 Notre Dame team, whose losses were both on the road to top 15 ranked opponents, should be in a major bowl game. That’s what we are used to seeing. Under Brian Kelly, 10 wins has always been enough to make a New Year’s Six bowl. Under Charlie Weis, 9 wins was enough one season.

To put it mildly, it’s frustrating to not be going to a major bowl game after a successful season. Furthermore, it’s a little bit gutting to know if Notre Dame wasn’t independent, they’d be in a major bowl game — without a doubt.

Let’s pretend Notre Dame played in the ACC for football, instead of just holding on to their current scheduling agreement.

The Irish beat Virginia, and Virginia Tech. Those two teams played for the right to go to the ACC Championship Game. If Notre Dame was in the ACC, they’d likely have played Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. Even if the Irish lost that game, they’d still be headed to the Orange Bowl, because it goes to the ACC runner-up (when the ACC winner makes the CFP).

That would be a much easier path to the NY6, which the 4-loss Virginia Cavaliers now get to stroll down.

Add to that the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl are hosting the CFP semi-finals, and the G5 gets a NY6 spot, and there were only ever two possible spots that Notre Dame could make the NY6. The first is the Orange Bowl, but they’d never want a rematch. The other was a single Cotton Bowl spot.

Unfortunately, this season Notre Dame did very poorly in the polls. Ever since the Michigan disaster, they hung around the mid-teens. This has kept a ton of NY6 contenders ahead of the Irish. Furthermore, it feels like there are a dozen name brands that have legit NY6 claims this season.

Again, there were really only between one and two spots for all those teams.

Notre Dame was punished for the perceived weakness of their schedule. USC and Stanford had down seasons. Navy gets no respect. Notre Dame lost their two road games against really tough teams.

People said that the schedule was weak, and would be tougher if they were in a conference — at least that is the perception. This perceived weakness of schedule, which comes from Independence, has kept teams like a 3-loss Auburn ahead of the Irish.

It really seems like the Irish would be headed to the NY6 if they were in a conference.

That hurts, to be told a thing that makes you unique and is something you pride yourself on can actually hurt you is tough to swallow.

That’s just the reality of Notre Dame’s 2019 season. It doesn’t mean we need to give up on Independence. Most seasons won’t be freaky like that. However, it does give the most persuasive argument to date against Independence.