USC replaces ND on the schedule with . . .

irishflu said:

Powerhouse San Jose State. What a joke. USC announces San Jose State as Week Zero opponent to open 2026 season - On3

What a bunch of baby back Bitches

Trogans vs Spartans. Gotta give the edge to Sparta.

USC is too scared to play new MAC powerhouse, Sacramento State.

The_Goose said:

Trogans vs Spartans. Gotta give the edge to Sparta.

For some context, SJSU finished 3-9 last year, good enough for 11th in the MWC.

FightinMike87 said:

USC is too scared to play new MAC powerhouse, Sacramento State.

They also backed out of a handshake agreement with Western Michigan to play this season after they saw what the Broncos did to Kennesaw State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

unless USC plays Indiana, Ohio St., Michigan and Penn St. and goes 2-2 against them, they are screwed making the tournament with a 10-2 record.

NotreGame said:

I know others don't want to hear this but in college football they don't penalize you for playing a average or weak schedule see Indiana and Michigan the last 2 national championships. The top dogs rarely want to open and play tough nonconference games. If I am Notre Dame I would drop Texas, Alabama, Michigan etc and replace them with a good opponent but not a powerhouse. Replace them with home and homes with Missouri, TCU, Iowa, Illinois ,Kansas State etc. Teams NotreDame has never played before or not in a long time. I like the upcoming home and homes with Auburn, Florida. These powerhouse schools almost always open at home and most of the time with a creampuff opponent to help break in new starters, new quarterback etc. They build confidence and momentum right from the go. I would like to see NotreDame do that. No one criticizes Georgia, Oregon, Michigan Penn State etc from always opening at home with a very winnable game .

Youarethe298? said:

I know others don't want to hear this but in college football they don't penalize you for playing a average or weak schedule see Indiana and Michigan the last 2 national championships. The top dogs rarely want to open and play tough nonconference games. If I am Notre Dame I would drop Texas, Alabama, Michigan etc and replace them with a good opponent but not a powerhouse. Replace them with home and homes with Missouri, TCU, Iowa, Illinois ,Kansas State etc. Teams NotreDame has never played before or not in a long time. I like the upcoming home and homes with Auburn, Florida. These powerhouse schools almost always open at home and most of the time with a creampuff opponent to help break in new starters, new quarterback etc. They build confidence and momentum right from the go. I would like to see NotreDame do that. No one criticizes Georgia, Oregon, Michigan Penn State etc from always opening at home with a very winnable game .

ND is in a completely different position than the conference teams. ND has 4-5 weeks to start the year to make most of those matchups happen outside of the ACC contract because the programs that fit in the bucket you describe still enter their conference schedules at the same time. Yes, it would be good to load up on middling (#30-60) teams, but it's also the range that most ACC opponents have fallen into. As for opening at Miami on the road, it's an ACC game. They can put it wherever/whenever they want it. Same with FSU, UL, and Duke in recent seasons.

And Jeremiah Love is STILL running.

Fight on! As long as it’s someone out west that we can beat up on…. Wonder what Riley’s excuse will be this year when they underachieve again….

And Texas will go with Sam Houston State

SJSU can do this because they play at Hawai’i later on…it’s almost like you need to fit within a standard exception to play Week 0 and the “offer” to ND to play week 0 was a farce the whole time

Pappa_Bear2022 said:

unless USC plays Indiana, Ohio St., Michigan and Penn St. and goes 2-2 against them, they are screwed making the tournament with a 10-2 record.

0-4

Pappa_Bear2022 said:

unless USC plays Indiana, Ohio St., Michigan and Penn St. and goes 2-2 against them, they are screwed making the tournament with a 10-2 record.

They will lose to Oregon, either Washington, Penn State or Wisconsin, Ohio State and Indiana ... 8-4 or 7-5 season coming up

akshatshekhar said:

SJSU can do this because they play at Hawai’i later on…it’s almost like you need to fit within a standard exception to play Week 0 and the “offer” to ND to play week 0 was a farce the whole time

This is correct and SJSU gets a buy game out of it to play the game at Southern Cal. Southern Cal's "proposal" to play ND week 0 would have needed to be played internationally... So now SC's non-conference schedule consists of 3 home games against juggernauts SJSU, Fresno State, and Louisiana - the Cajuns, not the Tigers. Congrats Lincoln, you've completed your Mona Lisa

mh2365 said:

They will lose to Oregon, either Washington, Penn State or Wisconsin, Ohio State and Indiana ... 8-4 or 7-5 season coming up

If this happens and it should Riley has to be fired.

FightinMike87 said:

ND is in a completely different position than the conference teams. ND has 4-5 weeks to start the year to make most of those matchups happen outside of the ACC contract because the programs that fit in the bucket you describe still enter their conference schedules at the same time. Yes, it would be good to load up on middling (#30-60) teams, but it's also the range that most ACC opponents have fallen into. As for opening at Miami on the road, it's an ACC game. They can put it wherever/whenever they want it. Same with FSU, UL, and Duke in recent seasons.

This is what a lot of ND fans don't seem to comprehend... it's not who wants to play ND (though that bucket is also shrinking), its when teams can play ND. NDs non-ACC schedule is going to front-loaded with good teams if ND wants to play good teams.

USC has a loaded first 4 weeks. San Jose State Fresno State Louisiana at Rutgers Greatest part is the national media will convince us Washington, at Wisconsin and at Penn State are tough games. Even though the national media says Wisconsin is a cupcake on NDs schedule.

Crash_Davis_8 said:

This is what a lot of ND fans don't seem to comprehend... it's not who wants to play ND (though that bucket is also shrinking), its when teams can play ND. NDs non-ACC schedule is going to front-loaded with good teams if ND wants to play good teams.

USC didn’t want to play ND in September, October or November though. They wanted 2 bye weeks during conference play. ND doesn’t play at Hawaii so week 0 was just an imagination in USCs head.

SpaddyND said:

USC didn’t want to play ND in September, October or November though. They wanted 2 bye weeks during conference play. ND doesn’t play at Hawaii so week 0 was just an imagination in USCs head.

I know. I was responding to a post who was responding to a post saying ND should just schedule x, y, , throughout the year.

Crash_Davis_8 said:

I know. I was responding to a post who was responding to a post saying ND should just schedule x, y, , throughout the year.

It looks like it’s getting tougher. If Texas cancels their game with ND, it might be the end of NDs independents. The only thing keeping ND from joining a conference is the SEC has a lot of future games with ND.

Crash_Davis_8 said:

This is what a lot of ND fans don't seem to comprehend... it's not who wants to play ND (though that bucket is also shrinking), its when teams can play ND. NDs non-ACC schedule is going to front-loaded with good teams if ND wants to play good teams.

I see your point. NotreDame even being hampered and restricted of when they can play teams should still be able to open week 1 at home most years. Just a few years back they played Navy week 0 in Ireland. I am just not so sure with the playoffs, and scheduling difficulties if NotreDame wouldn't be better off giving up independence and joining a conference full time in football. This way you can schedule 3 non conference games every year with whoever you wanted to and most likely be able to open at home more often. Plus if you lose a game you can still make it to a conference championship game win and get in the playoffs.