Joel Klatt sends blunt message to Notre Dame over wanting to stay independent
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Joel Klatt sends blunt message to Notre Dame over wanting to stay independent originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Joel Klatt wants Notre Dame to know independence is becoming a liability in the College Football Playoff era.
While appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, the FOX Sports analyst argued that there is little incentive for Power Four programs to continue scheduling the Notre Dame Fighting Irish under the current 12-team CFP model. Klatt said the Irish benefit from avoiding conference play while still holding a relatively clear path to the playoff.
“It does not behoove anybody to schedule Notre Dame,” Klatt said. “They have such an advantage over teams in the Big Ten and SEC that are playing much more difficult schedules.”
Klatt explained why recent playoff controversies is evidence that the system rewards win-loss records over strength of schedule. In that environment, he questioned why programs like USC Trojans would add Notre Dame to already demanding conference slates.
“If you’re USC, you’re playing nine Big Ten games and you’re just going to add Notre Dame because?” Klatt said. “It doesn’t make any sense for them.”
Notre Dame remains independent in football but has a scheduling agreement to play five games annually against the Atlantic Coast Conference, while competing in the ACC in most other sports. Klatt acknowledged the tradition of independence but said the landscape has changed.
“I think Notre Dame should join a conference,” Klatt said. “It would be better for college football.”
Notre Dame has long maintained its preference for independence, but as playoff access and scheduling equity grow increasingly intertwined, that stance may face renewed pressure.
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