Herbstreit Calls Notre Dame Schedule 'Embarrassment' Ahead of BYU Showdown
ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit ignited a firestorm Friday morning when he criticized Notre Dame's 2026 schedule as an "embarrassment" and "incredibly unfair" during an appearance on Get Up. The timing was deliberate: the No. 2 Fighting Irish (6-0) are preparing for their first true road test of the season Saturday night at No. 8 BYU (5-0) in Provo, Utah.
Herbstreit's central argument is that Notre Dame plays only two games this season against genuinely challenging opponents — this week's trip to BYU and a Nov. 7 home date with No. 3 Miami. He contrasted that with the weekly grind faced by SEC and Big Ten contenders like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State.
"Notre Dame plays two games where they're going to be challenged," Herbstreit said. "This one where they're favored and Miami at home. Think about what Alabama and Georgia and Ohio State and these teams with what they're dealing with. That cannot continue. That's an embarrassment and incredibly unfair."
His comments came during a broader discussion about reports that the College Football Playoff will expand to 24 teams for the 2027 season. Herbstreit fears expansion could devalue the regular season, turning college football into college basketball. To prevent that, he wants a national scheduling office and stronger non-conference matchups.
"Your ass better be playing real games against real teams," he said. "The idea of going the Indiana way or some of these teams that play nobody in the non-conference has got to be over."
Notre Dame's Schedule Under Scrutiny
The numbers largely support Herbstreit's critique. Notre Dame's 2026 slate includes only three ranked opponents: Miami (No. 3), SMU (No. 24), and BYU (No. 8). Traditional rivals USC and Michigan are absent, and the season opener against Wisconsin in Green Bay was against an unranked Badgers team. Other opponents — Michigan State, Purdue, Stanford, Navy, and Boston College — are all unranked.
Notre Dame fans, however, quickly fired back on social media, pointing to Miami's supposedly weaker schedule as evidence of hypocrisy. One fan wrote, "Subtract BYU from Notre Dame's schedule and replace it with an FCS school and you have Miami's schedule… care to comment @KirkHerbstreit?" Another called Herbstreit's take "incredibly lazy" and accused him of flip-flopping after picking the Irish to win the national championship in the preseason.
The backlash reflects a long-standing sensitivity among Notre Dame supporters, who believe the program is held to a different standard than conference counterparts. As an independent, Notre Dame has no conference championship game to bolster its résumé and must rely on its 12 regular-season games to impress the CFP selection committee.
CFP Expansion Could Force Scheduling Changes
Herbstreit's rant may prove prescient. According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, CFP expansion will require all Power 4 schools to play at least 10 P4 games, and Notre Dame is expected to increase its frequency of playing SEC and Big Ten opponents. That would directly address Herbstreit's concern about the Irish's soft slate.
The analyst also singled out Indiana and other programs that have exploited weak non-conference schedules to reach the playoff. With 24 teams potentially qualifying, the margin for error shrinks, and strength of schedule will become an even more critical metric.
For now, Notre Dame has a chance to silence critics on the field. A win at BYU would give the Irish a signature road victory and validate their top-two ranking. A loss, however, would amplify Herbstreit's critique and raise questions about whether Notre Dame's schedule has adequately prepared them for championship contention.
Broader Implications for College Football
Herbstreit's comments touch on a fundamental tension in college football: the balance between preserving the regular season's meaning and expanding access to the playoff. As the sport moves toward a 24-team format, programs will face mounting pressure to schedule aggressively — or risk being left out.
For Notre Dame, the stakes are existential. As an independent, the program's identity is built on national relevance and a schedule that tests it coast to coast. If the Irish are perceived as gaming the system, they lose the moral high ground that has long justified their independence.
Saturday night in Provo, the debate shifts from the studio to the field. Whether Notre Dame's performance vindicates Herbstreit's criticism or proves him wrong, one thing is clear: the conversation about scheduling fairness is only beginning.
Comments