I am far from convinced on the schedule flexibility point

by beattherush, Chicago, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 08:54 (7 days ago) @ CW (Rakes)

I think it's plausible that Pete's thinking that a 24-game playoff would loosen up scheduling.

I don't think that's actually correct, though. A 24-game playoff is going to encourage Indiana scheduling practices, not discourage them. Why stick your neck out playing ND? Play some tomato cans and "the rigors of a conference schedule", lose a big game or two but beat some middle of the roaders, make the playoff every year.

Plus we run the risk of the BiG restarting the "autobids" discussion, which is where the real threat to ND independence lies.

The wild-card in all this is the TV contracts end, and presumably Pete knows that better than we do. My understanding is that right now ESPN holds all the playoff cards, but expansion to 16 reopens negotiations somewhat, and expansion to 24 creates inventory that NBC and Fox and CBS can bid on. College football ratings are up generally in a down ratings market where advertisers are craving opportunities for millions in the demo. That's 1) the NFL, 2) CFB, and 3) everything else. If NBC has a bigger stake in the outcome (or ideally, Amazon or Apple or Netflix start bidding), can/would they exert scheduling pressure on the conferences to open up midseason OOC matchups? That's the $100K question.

Not sure we have an answer. Not sure Pete has one either, though if he did, we probably wouldn't know.