Can't Wait For Saturday Irish make the cut again … and it won't be the last time

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Mar. 18—***

In the next two weeks-ish, I will be ranking each Big Ten team's best nonconference game.

Quick recap: No, 1 Ohio State at Texas, Sept. 12.

2. Michigan vs. Oklahoma, Sept. 12

3. Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame, Sept 6

So let me get this straight, Notre Dame is playing three Big Ten schools in 2026 (also Purdue) and one of them is NOT Southern California? In the name of Knute Rockne, are you kidding me?

All that tradition— they played every year from 1946 to 2025 — went poof. It makes no sense.

What does make sense given that it got left out of the College Football Playoff in 2025, is for Notre Dame to join a conference. Oh, wait, it fixed that playoff problem with a lopsided deal that allows the team to make the CFP if it finishes in the Top 12 of the final rankings. No matter what.

For Notre Dame fans, the visit in late September by Michigan State doesn't make the must-see list. But for new Spartans coach Pat Fitzgerald, the game offers an opportunity for a huge victory his first season.

More likely, it will be a long year for the Green and White. Beyond the trip to Notre Dame, Michigan State also plays Michigan, Washington and Oregon in a late-season stretch. If the Spartans go bowling, Fitzgerald should be Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Good news, Illinois visits East Lansing on Oct. 10. Spartan Stadium is one of the best buildings in the Big Ten. Looking forward to it.

As for Notre Dame, Irish fans need to hold off on planning for a trip back to the CFP. The Irish schedule is marshmallow soft. The only challenges are a trip to BYU and a visit from Miami. Notre Dame needs to sweep the rest to assure itself a place in the Top 12.

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