One of the arguments that people make all the time about Notre Dame football is that staying independent is that they are losing out on big time money. However, those same people often ignore the fact that there are ways the Fighting Irish make some serious cash. And when they make that cash, they don’t have the share it with anyone.
One case in point is the money being poured into the South Bend coffers for making the playoffs. Notre Dame is getting several million dollars already for making the College Football Playoffs. And that money is going to flow even faster if Marcus Freeman’s squad wins the Sugar Bowl and keeps on going.
As Sportico pointed out, Notre Dame football’s first-round opponent, the Indiana Hoosiers, got to keep just $222,000 of the $4 million that it earned for the Big Ten Conference by qualifying for the CFP. The Irish got to keep all $4 million.
Notre Dame football scooping up cash for College Football Playoffs appearance
In addition to the $4 million from the first round, the Fighting Irish are guaranteed another $4 million for its quarterfinals matchup against Georgia on New Year’s Day night. If it reaches the championship game, an outcome DraftKings currently pegs at +250 odds, the school will have earned a total of $20 million, plus $3 million per round to cover expenses.
By comparison, if a Big Ten team such as Oregon or Ohio State runs the table, it will only take home $1.1 million. Meanwhile, teams like Northwestern, Maryland and Purdue, teams that didn’t even make a bowl, get some of that cash as well.
While there are financial arguments to be made for Notre Dame football to join a conference, it’s clear it’s not totally cut and dried. Especially if the College Football Playoff format changes this offseason to allow the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to get a first round bye in 2025.