While a perusal of the HLS Twitter feed (and my own for that matter), paints a rather bleak picture in regards to the confidence that the 2020 college football season will even happen. However, I decided that, on the heels of our conference with benefits releasing the 2020 ACC football schedule, I decided to save the doom and gloom for another post.
So, in this post, and perhaps slightly podcast-drunk from the triumphant return of the Shutdown Fullcast, I’m going to pretend that the 2020 season is definitely happening.
Let’s have some fun.
Join a Conference and Play a Real Schedule, They Said
Analysis: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
/breathes
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Thanks to every conference pretending they can create a magic Power Five bubble, Notre Dame drops the traditional three rivals Navy, Stanford, and Southern Cal as well as non-conference tilts with Arkansas and Wisconsin.
While Wisconsin was the only team ranked in the recently released coaches top 25 (they come in at #12), the original 2020 schedule wasn’t exactly a favorable layout (correction: Southern Cal was ranked #17–this is now an official HLS blog post, complete with a dumb error).
Arkansas was slated as the home opener on the heels of playing Navy. But with the Week 0 Ireland trip cancelled, Notre Dame would’ve played Navy in Annapolis over Labor Day weekend instead, re-creating the dreaded Navy hangover.
Notre Dame then would’ve faced an awful stretch of a neutral site game against Wisconsin, followed by a home game with Stanford, and then hitting the road to face what would surely be a fully charged Pitt super-weapon.
Southern Cal would’ve ended the season on the road and instead the Irish will now end it at home against Syracuse, a team that plays all their home games in a dome, IN DECEMBER–just an incredible swap.
Picking up #19 North Carolina isn’t optimal, but Notre Dame gets a bye before the game (the Tar Heels do as well) and gets a rare Friday Thanksgiving week game before their home finale with ‘Cuse.
Honestly, the only real terrifying part of the schedule is the Clemson and Boston College back-to-back, but should we really fear playing Boston College after a highly anticipated game in Notre Dame stadium? I mean, this one is on the road, against a former Notre Dame quarterback that is recently cleared for immediate play post-transfer.
TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION.
Did We Mention No Navy?
It’s our favorite double-edged sword that everyone has incredibly strong opinions on. I’m firmly in the camp of saying we don’t owe them a wookie life debt (especially because now you can argue we “owe” the ACC conference membership for “saving” the 2020 season and LOL PLEASE NO), and that we’ve done our part.
Unfortunately, Notre Dame disagrees as they’ve inked an extension of the series with Navy until 2032.
But I’m going to enjoy a year of football that’s definitely going to happen in which we face zero triple option teams that could knock out knees and/or hit multiple people on the team with some nagging, season-lingering injury.
Maybe 2020 will let ND’s administration see the light. You know, just like how everyone agrees that in the wake of pandemic wearing a mask, social distancing, and isolation is the best course of action which is exactly why the 2020 season is definitely happening.
Should Notre Dame Fans Hope for an ACC Title?
Oh. Hell. Yes.
Look, we have no idea how or even if the college football playoff will go down with all these conference-only schedules. This is a wacky year of college football that is in no danger of being cancelled so just go all-in. In fact, don’t panic even if somehow Notre Dame falls asleep at the wheel against Western Michigan. Non-conference game, who gives a damn!
This is the ultimate trolling opportunity. You think people get big mad about independence now? Just wait until Notre Dame puts the ACC trophy in the Joyce Center and makes the ACC take the walk of shame after our one-season stand.
Win this sucker, spray-paint the trophy, and carry it around like the nWo once we return to triumphant independence in 2021.
Texan by birth, Irish by choice.
First-generation Domer and a former student manager, HLS podcast host, HLS Sim creator, Extra Life streamer, and technical problem haver. You can find more non-Notre Dame related writing on his Patreon.
- Epilogue - January 3, 2022
- HLS Podcast Finale - January 2, 2022
- The Final Fiesta: Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State NCAA ’14 Sim - December 31, 2021
