The long-running debate over Notre Dame’s independence in college football got a fresh jolt this week, thanks to a pointed message from analyst Josh Pate that lit up social media and reignited one of the sport’s most enduring conversations. At the heart of the discussion? The future of the USC-Notre Dame rivalry - and the broader question of whether independence still makes sense in the era of the expanded College Football Playoff.
Pate didn’t mince words. Posting on X, he made a bold declaration: *“When I am CFB Commissioner the USC-ND rivalry will be permanently cemented and out of the reach of any coach or administrator.
If you don’t want to play the game, take another job.” *
It was a direct shot at the idea that one of college football’s most iconic rivalries could be jeopardized by shifting schedules, changing priorities, or coaching decisions. And it didn’t go unnoticed - especially by fans who saw a not-so-subtle dig at Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
Notre Dame, for its part, has remained firm in its stance on independence. The school has long held that its identity is intertwined with its status as a football independent - and that’s not changing anytime soon.
In fact, starting in 2026, Notre Dame is guaranteed a playoff spot if it finishes in the top 12, thanks to a newly signed agreement tied to the expanded playoff format. That deal gives the Irish a seat at the table - but not without reigniting questions about fairness and scheduling equity.
Fans quickly picked up the baton from Pate’s post, turning the comment section into a referendum on Notre Dame’s scheduling practices. One user took aim at the Irish’s late-season slate, suggesting that *“Notre Dame fills the schedule with G5’s around the USC game while USC is playing blue bloods around the Notre Dame game.
Notre Dame is scared to play a healthy USC it seems.” *
Another fan echoed a common refrain: if Notre Dame wants to be treated like everyone else, maybe it’s time to start acting like everyone else. *“Notre Dame should join a conference and play 9 conference games and the 10th can be USC.
Until then we cannot advocate for ND to stack the schedule however they want and then expect USC to play them in the middle of their conference schedule.” *
The idea of Notre Dame joining a Power Five conference - whether it’s the SEC or Big Ten - has been floated for years, and it popped up again in the replies. One fan kept it simple: “Make ND join the SEC or Big Ten.”
Others were more critical of both programs, questioning the overall strength of their schedules. “Why do USC & Notre Dame insist on playing cupcake schedules? I don’t get it…” one fan asked, tapping into a broader frustration with non-conference scheduling across the sport.
There was also plenty of support for Pate’s stance. *“Amen!!
Getting tired of waiting for your ascendance to the throne. Hurry, CFB is starting to tarnish,”* one fan wrote, urging Pate to keep pushing for structural change in college football.
Another added: “Notre Dame needs USC a lot more than USC needs Notre Dame,” a sentiment that reflects how some fans view the rivalry’s current power dynamic - especially as USC transitions into a new era in the Big Ten.
The timing of all this isn’t coincidental. Notre Dame’s exclusion from the playoff this season has brought renewed scrutiny to the program’s independence.
And it’s not just analysts and fans weighing in. Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire didn’t hold back this week ahead of the Orange Bowl, offering his own take on the playoff selection process.
“I think when you have a criteria where you’re going to select a team, everybody should be in that same criteria,” McGuire said. “So, I don’t wanna make Notre Dame mad, but be in a conference, and you’re in the playoffs.”
To be clear, McGuire wasn’t taking aim at Freeman himself. In fact, he praised the Irish head coach, calling him “an absolute rockstar” and someone he’d want his own son to play for. But McGuire’s message was clear: the system needs consistency, and independence throws a wrench into that.
This wasn’t McGuire’s first jab at the topic, either. After a win over BYU in November, he took another shot at programs that remain outside the conference structure, suggesting that the days of going it alone may be numbered.
As the playoff expands and the sport continues to consolidate power into a few major conferences, Notre Dame’s unique position grows increasingly complicated. Yes, the Irish have a guaranteed path to the postseason starting in 2026 - but the pressure to conform to the rest of the college football landscape is only going to increase.
For now, the USC-Notre Dame rivalry remains intact. But the conversation around it - and what it represents - is far from settled.