Mike Greenberg rips Notre Dame’s argument since CFP snub, cites data

Nobody wants to be snubbed by the College Football Playoff, but not everyone uses their platform to get out their messaging the way Notre Dame has. That included a press conference on Tuesday when Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua claimed that the Irish had one of the the most dominant 10-game runs in college football history.

That sentiment didn’t sit well with ESPN personality Mike Greenberg. So, he would use his platform as the host of Get Up to push back on Wednesday morning.

“I think we need to take a closer look at this,” Mike Greenberg said. “‘We had one of the great 10-game runs in the history of college football.’ I think you could argue it was the fourth best 10-game run that any team had this year alone. Indiana, this year, had a 10-game run that had a greater point differential against better competition. Ohio State, this year, had a 10-game run that had a better point differential against better competition.”

While Greenberg was speaking, a graphic showing the 10-game runs he referenced came up on the screen. It showed Indiana had a +324 point differential against 66-55 opponents. Ohio State was +300 against 62-58 teams. Notre Dame was +297 against 55-65 teams. Then, Texas Tech was +271 against 70-52 teams.

Now, not all records are made the same. A MAC record and a Big Ten record imply different strengths of schedule. On top of that, all three teams Notre Dame was being compared to earned first round byes, when the Irish were battling Alabama and Miami for the final spot. Still, it does prove that Bevacqua was being hyperbolic.

“Notre Dame’s 10-game run, they had a +297 [point differential] against teams that were 10 games under .500. Look just below them. Texas Tech had a 10-game run in which their point differential was almost as good,” Greenberg said. “And the competition was infinitely better. So, as I said, this is where they went a step too far. It always just goes one step too far.”

That, for Greenberg, kills the argument in Notre Dame’s favor. By going too far, he feels there is an amount of overall credibility that is being lost.

“You had me… The entire time, I was thinking, if I were in his shoes, I might do the same thing. I don’t want my coach to get up there and have to say all that stuff. These are college players, no matter how much they’re getting paid, they aren’t gonna get up there and complain. I’m gonna get up there and complain. Then, we went to one of the most dominant 10-game runs in the history of college football,” Greenberg said. “And, unfortunately, that’s so far from true that you lost even your last defender in me.”

At the end of the day, Notre Dame and Pete Bevacqua could make a perfect argument now, but it wouldn’t change anything. The Irish are out of the CFP and will have to try to bounce back next season.