Image Source: The New York Times
The Notre Dame football schedule has become the center of a heated college football debate after ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit sharply criticized the Fighting Irish’ list of opponents. During an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Friday, Herbstreit described the schedule as an “embarrassment” and argued that Notre Dame must play more meaningful games to strengthen its postseason case.
Explosive Kirk Herbstreit Criticism Targets Notre Dame Football Schedule
Herbstreit’s comments came while the television panel discussed reports that the College Football Playoff could expand to 24 teams next season. Although a larger playoff field could create more opportunities, Herbstreit said teams should still be required to prove themselves against high-level competition.
“Notre Dame plays two games where they’re going to be challenged. This one, where they’re favored, and Miami at home,” Herbstreit said. “Think about what Alabama and Georgia and Ohio State and these teams with what they’re dealing with. That cannot continue. That’s an embarrassment and incredibly unfair.”
The analyst did not limit his criticism to Notre Dame. He said several programs have relied on soft nonconference schedules while teams in major conferences face difficult matchups week after week. In his view, that imbalance makes it harder to compare teams fairly when playoff rankings are created.
Why the Fighting Irish Schedule Is Under Scrutiny
Notre Dame competes as an independent program rather than belonging to a major college football conference. That status gives the school greater control over its scheduling, but it also leaves the Fighting Irish open to criticism when their path appears less demanding than those of teams in the SEC, Big Ten or ACC.
For the remainder of the season, Notre Dame is scheduled to play just three teams currently ranked in the top 25:
- No. 8 BYU
- No. 3 Miami
- No. 24 SMU
The upcoming BYU matchup was viewed as one of the schedule’s most important tests. Notre Dame was favored, according to Herbstreit, but the analyst still considered the contest a meaningful opportunity for the Fighting Irish to improve their résumé. Miami, which Notre Dame will face at home, represents another major challenge late in the season.
Herbstreit’s comments are especially significant because Notre Dame was controversially left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff last season. The program responded by declining to play in a non-playoff bowl game, adding another layer to the ongoing debate about independent teams and postseason access.
Herbstreit Calls for a National Scheduling Office
Rather than allowing conferences and individual programs to manage scheduling independently, Herbstreit proposed a broader national system. He suggested creating an office responsible for reviewing conference schedules and helping arrange stronger nonconference matchups.
“Instead of each conference doing the scheduling, I think we need a national scheduling office that is in charge of getting games set,” Herbstreit said. He argued that such a system could examine the overall strength of each team’s opponents rather than evaluating schedules in isolation.
Herbstreit also delivered a blunt message to teams hoping to qualify for the expanded playoff. “Your ass better be playing real games against real teams to give fans and players games to get excited about,” he said.
His proposal could have major implications for Notre Dame and other independent programs. A national scheduling system might create more marquee games, but it could also reduce a school’s flexibility when building its annual slate. For fans, however, the result could be more high-profile matchups with greater postseason importance.
What the Notre Dame Debate Means for the Playoff
The dispute over the Notre Dame football schedule reflects a larger question facing college football: Should playoff selection focus primarily on wins, or should schedule strength carry greater weight?
Notre Dame can point to its national profile, tradition and challenging opponents. Critics, including Herbstreit, believe those advantages should not replace consistent tests against elite competition. With playoff expansion potentially on the way, the pressure to schedule ranked teams could become even more intense.
For now, the Fighting Irish have an opportunity to answer the criticism on the field. Strong performances against BYU, Miami and SMU would give Notre Dame a clearer argument for postseason consideration. Poor results, however, could reinforce concerns about the overall strength of the schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kirk Herbstreit criticize Notre Dame’s schedule?
Herbstreit argued that Notre Dame faces too few highly ranked opponents compared with teams in major conferences. He called the schedule an “embarrassment” and said playoff contenders need to play stronger competition.
Which ranked teams are on Notre Dame’s remaining schedule?
The Fighting Irish are scheduled to face No. 8 BYU, No. 3 Miami and No. 24 SMU during the remainder of the season.
Why does Notre Dame play as an independent?
Notre Dame does not belong to a major college football conference. Its independent status allows the program to manage its own schedule, but it also attracts greater scrutiny over opponent quality.
What scheduling solution did Herbstreit propose?
Herbstreit proposed a national scheduling office that could review conference schedules and arrange stronger nonconference games across college football.
