College Football: Why aren’t there more Catholic D-I FBS programs?

2.  Primacy of Notre Dame

Something that dissuades Catholic universities around the country from moving to the top ranks of Division I college football is the success of Notre Dame.

For Catholic football programs, there’s no one even close to matching what the Fighting Irish have done. With stricter academic requirements and hopefully higher behavioral standards for its players, Notre Dame has managed to remain nationally relevant into the third decade of the 21st century.

The Fighting Irish may not be a true national title contender (see: significant postseason losses to Clemson and Alabama), but they are a notch above most Division I football programs. The storied history is there, with 22 national championships and seven Heisman Trophy winners.

The legends and the personalities ranging from the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, Knute Rockne, and “Rudy” of box office fame are there. And lastly, one can’t discount the on-campus lore (like “Touchdown Jesus” on the library) that makes up part of the Notre Dame Stadium experience.

I argue that Notre Dame holds a special place for Catholic football fans nationwide, even if the Fighting Irish ended your alma mater’s record-setting winning streak at 47 back in the 1950s. Call it a response to anti-Catholic bigotry of the late 19th century or a modern achievement of branding and identity, but nothing comes closer to associating a religious institution with the football field in America.

Boston College, on the other hand, has experienced only five winning seasons in the past decade. The middling Eagles moved to the ACC from the moribund Big East in 2005. As the only other Catholic FBS team, BC hasn’t done much to compete with Notre Dame. Indeed, the Fighting Irish have beat the Eagles eight times in a row dating back to 2009.