Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Miami (Ohio) in 2017, Ball State in 2018 and Bob Davie's New Mexico team in 2019. But Notre Dame joins USC and UCLA as the lone schools not to schedule a lower rung Football Cham- pionship Subdivision team. Alabama earned its national title last year while navigating a treacherous slate — but even it included Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Monroe and Charleston Southern along the way. Same with runner-up Clemson opening with Wof- ford and Appalachian State. "What we have to do — and I think we're doing very effectively — is build a 12-game schedule which compares favorably with anybody's 13-game schedule," Swarbrick said. "When a team includes among its 13 games an opponent that effectively delivers an- other bye to them, that game delivers no value, so it's 12 versus 12. "I think our schedules compare fa- vorably, and we have to continue to build ones that do. And as long as we do, I'll take my chances." Often forgotten in the 13-game ar- gument with conference title games is that top teams can be hurt by them, too. The Big 12 will return to a league title game in 2017, but in one of its first such contests in 1998, 11-0 Kansas State lost its chance to play for No. 1 when it was defeated by a two-loss Texas A&M squad in the conference title game. "There will be years where a con- ference championship game hurts a team that would otherwise get in," Swarbrick said. "That's not a reason for them to then go independent. It has happened and will continue to happen. There will be a year where an undefeated conference champion does not get into the game." Next edition: Part II of the interview with Jack Swarbrick. ✦ In building the football schedule each season, Notre Dame's obligation includes five home night games over two seasons — including the Sham- rock Series. The Fighting Irish hosted two night games in 2015 (Texas and USC) and also the Shamrock Se- ries (Boston College). This year, it will host two more in Notre Dame Stadium (Michigan State and Stanford) — but for the first time the Shamrock Series, versus Army, will be played in the after- noon. That takes care of the commitment for five over two years. In 2017, the two likely night games will be Georgia in September and USC in early October. In 2018, Stanford could be at night — but the Florida State game Nov. 10 might stay in the afternoon because it's later in the year. The maximum night games the Irish will play at home is two. "The Shamrock Series will almost always be a night game," Swarbrick said. "We don't want to maximize night games on campus for a host of reasons." Meanwhile, head coach Brian Kelly has stated that placing the bye week when it coincides with the one-week fall break from school the middle of each October is "ideal," and so far Swarbrick said the Irish have been fortunate. In 2013 the bye was Oct. 12, the week prior to playing USC, in 2014 it was Oct. 25 after the emotion-laden loss at No. 2 Florida State, and last year it was Oct. 24, after the USC game. This year it will be right after the Stanford game Oct. 15, coinciding again with fall break, OF NIGHT GAMES, BYES AND OVERSEAS TRAVEL