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On Tuesday, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Board of Managers changed the qualifying criteria for the new 12 team format to “include the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP Selection Committee.”
That change now gives Notre Dame one more chance at qualifying since they do not participate in any conference, can’t earn an automatic bid, and cannot receive a bye in the first round (which some Irish fans actually see as a good thing).
The question Stephen A. Smith had on Wednesday following the announced change to the College Football Playoff qualifying criteria was, “Why are they even relevant?”
“The Notre Dame Fighting Irish in college football has not won a championship since 1988,” Smith told Paul Finebaum and Chris Russo on First Take.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if my math is correct that’s 36 years without a national championship,” Smith continued.
“Are you ready for this, Doggie [Russo]? You had just started with Mike Francesa on the FAN in New York City. That’s how long ago that was! That’s the last time these brothers was relevant.”
“They have not won a national championship since 1988. That is 36 years. 36 years ago, Doggie.”
Smith went on to add, “It’s a prestigious university, I get it. The Golics of the world and everybody love themselves some Notre Dame. And they should, please don’t get me wrong. But what the hell have they done?”
Stephen A. Smith isn’t wrong. Since winning the national championship in 1988, Notre Dame football has made to the national championship game one time. That was in 2020 when they got steamrolled by the Alabama Crimson Tide (and were a member of the ACC).
In fact, since 1988, Notre Dame football is 12-16 in bowl games and has finished in the top 10 in the Coaches Poll just eight times in 36 years.
Finebaum also piled on to the Fighting Irish, saying, “What if Notre Dame is No. 1? Well first of off, that’s not going to happen. Marcus Freeman is a good coach, but they’re not going to be No. 1. But if they were, it’s their own fault!
“Notre Dame remains an independent, for what reason I don’t know. Remember when they lived off the ACC a couple of years ago during COVID? They joined the ACC for one season. And by the way, they got to the Playoff as a result.
“But instead of joining the ACC, of which they’re a member in every sport but hockey and football, they said, ‘We’re too good, you guys; we’re going to go at it alone,’ even though basketball and baseball and all those programs play [in the ACC].”