Big Ten opponents Notre Dame should play annually if it ever joins
The Big Ten has unveiled its “Flex Protect Plus” scheduling model, which will take effect when USC and UCLA join the conference in 2024. Eleven particular matchups will be protected and thus played every year, and every school will play every school at least twice over a four-year period. There will be both annual and rotating matchups over each team’s nine-game league schedule.
Which brings us to Notre Dame. We all know about the Irish being denied entry into the Big Ten in the 20th century’s early years, but times areMidw changing. With college football’s landscape radically changing soon, questions about the feasibility of the Irish’s longtime independence are being raised. Plus, with their next athletic director currently heading NBC Sports Group and the Big Ten about to start a long-term TV deal with NBC, the Irish almost seem destined for full-time Big Ten membership.
Now, before you Irish traditionalists hang me from the top of the Golden Dome, really think about this. Many of the Irish’s most frequent opponents in their history are based in the Midwest. This would revive annual or semi-annual rivalries that largely have been discarded to fulfill obligations to the East Coast-centeric ACC. Nothing against that conference, but Wake Forest, North Carolina and Georgia Tech just seem to be awkwardly forced upon the fan base by the arrangement and don’t exactly rile anyone up.
In the event of a Big Ten membership, certain parameters will have to be set for the Irish. They definitely would need to keep Navy as one of its nonconference opponents because any season not completely compromised by COVID that doesn’t have the Midshipmen just seems wrong. Other than that, there are some opponents that need to be scheduled every year or at least merit consideration for that. Here are the ones most worth considering:
Ohio State
They say you have to beat the best to be the best. The way college football is right now, it’s unlikely the Buckeyes are going to fall from the sport’s top tier anytime soon. You might as well use this as a measuring stick for your team every year.
Wisconsin
No, the Irish don’t have the strongest history with the Badgers, but the school is relatively close, at least as far as the states are concerned. What’s more, the Badgers have developed a nice reputation over the years, and the game-day experience in Madison is incredible. Annual trips between there and South Bend would be a nice tradition to start.
Michigan State
If the area is called Michiana, you might as well go all the way with it. Plus, these schools have had some nice battles over the years, so you definitely want to keep that going. Also, only four other schools have played the Irish more in their history, and that alone merits consideration.
Northwestern
Why the Irish and Wildcats got away from playing each other, I have no idea. So many people in the Chicago area consider Notre Dame an area school, and if Chicago baseball fans have taught us anything, they love ribbing on each other. Bring this back on the college football level.
Michigan
This is as natural as it should get in college football. You have two programs with rich histories, and they’ve frequently butted heads. This is one rivalry that absolutely should not have fallen by the wayside, and the Irish in the Big Time would correct this indisputable wrong.
Purdue
Geographically, this just makes sense. No Big Ten program requires less travel to get to South Bend or vice-versa. And with Indiana still far off everyone’s radar in college football, this is one in-state rivalry worth watching.
USC
We can safely put this one in the “protected matchup” category. If the Irish join the Big Ten, the conference’s higher-ups would realize that this rivalry cannot die. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of the whole arrangement.
