One of the big talking points in the midst of college football media days is Notre Dame among other independent teams not being in a conference affecting their chances of going into the College Football Playoff. However, the people who run the playoff haven’t put any pressure on them to join the conference.
On Thursday, CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock stated in an interview that there has been no internal discussions to force Notre Dame, BYU, and Air Force to join a conference in order to be eligible for the College Football Playoff.
“The three independents are perfectly happy being independent,” Hancock said. “They have the ability to craft their schedules to fit their needs. If their need and goal is to be in the playoff, then they’re in the same boat as everybody else. You better play a good schedule if you want to be in the playoff.”
That last sentence should be no problem for the Fighting Irish. In 2015, they will play against nine team from the Power Five conferences and three against group of five teams. And it’s the same split in 2016 for the Irish.
-Clint Domingue