By Jay Berry
The college football playoff semifinals will kick off Thursday night, featuring two legendary programs: Penn State and Notre Dame. At the Orange Bowl press conference, Penn State coach James Franklin commented on what many fans believe was directed at Notre Dame.
Penn State head coach James Franklin didn’t hold back during the Orange Bowl press conference, taking a subtle yet pointed jab at Notre Dame’s long-standing independence from conference affiliation. Franklin’s comments sparked a lively debate about the merits of Notre Dame’s status as a football independent.
“No knock at Coach (Freeman) or Notre Dame, but I think everybody should be in a conference. Everybody should play a conference championship game or no one should play a conference championship game. Everybody should play the same number of conference games.”
James Franklin laments Notre Dame's independence, unequal Playoff paths https://t.co/QufMopecSB via @JohnDBrice1
— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) January 8, 2025
Franklin’s remarks highlighted the complexities of Notre Dame’s unique position in the college football landscape. As an independent team, the Fighting Irish aren’t bound by the same scheduling constraints as teams in the Power Five conferences, and this allows them to maintain a treasured rivalry with USC while also scheduling a mix of high-profile matchups and easier games.
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However, critics argue that Notre Dame’s independence gives them an unfair advantage regarding scheduling flexibility and access to high-profile games. Franklin’s comments echo this sentiment, implying that the Irish don’t face the same competition or scheduling challenges as teams in the Big Ten or other Power Five conferences.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said, “We pride ourselves on our independence. If they come out with a decision that we can’t be independent, we’ll make it work. I don’t have a whole bunch of opinions on it, right? I’m a guy that’s, just tell us what we’re doing and let’s go.”
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman: "We pride ourselves on our independence. If they come out with a decision that we can't be independent, we'll make it work. I don't have a whole bunch of opinion on it, right? I'm a guy that's, just tell us what we're doing and let's go." https://t.co/hmhTWxIkg7
— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) January 8, 2025
The Fighting Irish have the luxury of not playing a conference championship game. As a result, it can help them get a spot in the CFP with the expanded 12-team format.
Conclusion: Franklin doesn’t resent Notre Dame but believes it’s unfair, as some teams like Penn State play an extra game in the conference championship. The debate over Notre Dame’s independence is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. However, Franklin’s comments at the Orange Bowl press conference fueled the fire, highlighting the tensions between the Irish’s unique status and the rest of the college football world.
With the number of teams at the FBS level, Notre Dame’s status as college football royalty, it doesn’t seem likely that every team will play according to the same scheduling rules.
As the sport continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see whether Notre Dame’s independence remains a cherished tradition or becomes a relic of the past. The two teams will battle it on the field Thursday night in Miami at the Orange Bowl. Will James Franklin silence the doubters who say he can’t win big games, or will Marcus Freeman silence his own doubters who say Notre Dame can’t win big games?
One thing is certain: the sport is undergoing a period of transition, and we can expect many changes in the coming years. Whether Notre Dame will join a conference remains to be seen. Winning the Orange Bowl would strengthen their position as an independent team.
