What to make of Notre Dame football playing an FCS team for first time

On3 imageby:Tyler Horka04/06/22

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Notre Dame is the essence of longstanding tradition.

There is a difference between tradition, though, and circumstantial streaks. One of the latter will come to an end next year. For the first time ever, Notre Dame will play an FCS — and HBCU, for that matter — opponent when welcoming Tennessee State to South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 2, 2023.

It could be entirely possible previous Notre Dame coaches and administrators have avoided scheduling FCS opponents to preserve the sanctity of having never done so. As it stands, the Fighting Irish are one of just three Division I programs to have never played against an FCS foe. UCLA is another, and the Bruins are snapping their streak by playing against Alabama State this fall. So in a year and a half, USC will be the only school standing in this regard.

But what, if any, value does that give to the Trojans? Is new head coach Lincoln Riley going to land recruits because USC has never played against an FCS opponent? Is the NCAA going to award his institution a trophy? Maybe a cookie if he’s hungry? No and no. He has to earn all of those things himself, including the cookie.

Times are always changing in college football. Was Notre Dame really going to go forever without playing against an FCS team? Probably not. More importantly, did that streak really even matter? It’s only been harped on so much because Notre Dame hasn’t won a national championship since 1988. Win one of those, and this game against Tennessee State immediately becomes inconsequential in the minds of Irish fans — especially if it happens next season with the Tigers on the schedule.

BlueandGold.com’s Tyler Horka joined Darin Pritchett of WSBT SportsBeat AM to discuss Notre Dame’s most recent scheduling announcement, one that did not come without mixed reviews from fans. Click the play button below to hear that full conversation.

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