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Notre Dame, BYU should play during championship week

By Tanner Sperry

Nov 14, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly signals to his players during warmups before the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 28-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly signals to his players during warmups before the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 28-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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An annual game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and BYU Cougars would pit two independent teams against one another.

When BYU went independent in 2011, it reached a scheduling agreement with Notre Dame. The six-game series began in 2012 with BYU playing at Notre Dame. Following a second straight visit to Southbend in 2013, Notre Dame would then play BYU in Provo. The first two games were played, but the third game has been put on hold for a few years.

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This delay is largely due to a scheduling deal that Notre Dame has reached with the ACC. Notre Dame will play a select number of ACC schools through 2025, and since some games on the Irish’s schedule are set annual games like USC and Stanford, then it left Notre Dame little scheduling room.

But the Cougars and Irish can possibly still work their way around any obstacles by playing during conference championship week. The Big 12 has had games during that week, and since BYU and Notre Dame would almost surely have that week free every year, then they should give it a shot, even if it lasts a short while. They could even hold it on Friday if needed.

Adding this game would also benefit the programs in several ways. First of all, since conferences are trying to increase their strength of schedule for College Football Playoff purposes, this game would consistently have an impact on national rankings. Also, an emphasis is made on having that conference championship game to give teams an edge, so doing so would help the Cougars and Irish out with regard to the Playoff or New Years Six bids.

Financial benefits would also take shape, but overall, fans of both programs would also love to have this game at the end of every regular season.

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Hypothetically, this season would have even more options, as the highest rated independent team could even play the Big 12 during championship week. Since the Big 12 will be adding their championship game after the 2016 season, the two independent teams could face off annually during that week, so long as neither ends up joining a conference.

It’s a fun thing to think about and would be a win-win for Notre Dame and BYU.

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