Notre Dame’s Big Vacation

Colin Cowherd (The Herd) on Notre Dame’s 2026 schedule — “It’s pathetic. Basically, if this was your class load in college, you’d be taking Home Econ three times, Gym Class twice, and Wood Shop four times. It’s brutal. I can’t believe Notre Dame didn’t add Baking to their class schedule.

“Look at USC’s schedule, where they have to play Oregon, Washington, Ohio State, at Penn State, at Indiana, now a power, and their rival at UCLA. If that was your course load, that would be Trigonometry, Physics, and Chemistry twice. Notre Dame’s schedule is nonsense.

“As far as Notre Dame goes, it’s like a trust fund kid saying, ‘I can’t believe you have a summer job. I’m gonna be at Turks and Caicos.’

 

“Notre Dame knows this is pure nonsense. Marcus Freeman knows it. Notre Dame’s got side deals. USC doesn’t. Alabama doesn’t. Georgia doesn’t. LSU doesn’t. Ohio State doesn’t. Michigan doesn’t.

“Notre Dame’s schedule is weaker than any top 10 program and they even have Miami at home. Miami playing in cold weather at Notre Dame is a tough one for them.

“Notre Dame will be favored, often heavily, in every single game. And Notre Dame can stay much healthier with that schedule. They won’t get beat up and lose starters like USC might with their schedule.

“And you’re upset at USC? Give me a break! I’m tired of Notre Dame’s special treatment and how they say they are standing on principal. Oh, give me a break. And I’m not anti-Notre Dame. I’ve been pro-Notre Dame forever. I myself wish I could have gotten into the school.

“If I had to start a college football program, and I had to pick any college coach to start it, I think Marcus Freeman is way at the top of the list. The look, the energy, the recruiting, the smarts, the in-game changing, the half-time adjustments … He’s really good. I like everything about him. I don’t know him personally, but I’m a huge fan. A lot of people thought Notre Dame should have been in the playoffs. It’s not his fault Notre Dame’s schedule is ridiculous. He is leading on this list of New York Giants’ candidates.

“All that matters in college football now is qualify for the tournament and win the tournament. Games that used to be cool or even legendary don’t matter anymore.”

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