Notre Dame and the BCS: The “Notre Dame Rule”

Notre Dame’s annual share is not only less than the average for each conference team, but is one percent of the total bowl revenue distributed among BCS teams. Some fans think one percent of bowl monies is too much to give Notre Dame.

In short, it is more profitable to be Duke, Iowa State, Indiana, Washington State, Syracuse, or Mississippi State than to be an independent Notre Dame. Independence for ND is certainly not about the BCS money.

Who really is getting an unfair distribution of BCS money?

Fallacy No. 3: “Notre Dame keeps all of its revenue, much more than conference champions who must share it with the rest of its conference teams. This is an unfair advantage.”

This is a half-truth, part of the story. It is true that Notre Dame keeps all its revenue, but the Irish get no help from a conference for expenses and do not share in bowl revenue brought in by conference teams. The impact of that revenue-sharing for BCS teams is detailed in the profits listed above.

Furthermore, Notre Dame does not get revenue from a conference championship game, which for the SEC amounted to $14.3 million last year to be divided among its 12 member schools. (Source: SECsports.com)

“Unlike all other BCS universities, Notre Dame realizes no revenues from games in which it does not participate,” former Notre Dame Athletic Director Kevin White has said. “So for Notre Dame, it’s simply feast or famine.” (Source: ESPN.com)

Notre Dame, during the three years of this BCS contract, has had income revenues of $7.85 million—$4.5 million (2006) + $1.3 million (2007) + $1.3 million + $750,000 from the Hawaii Bowl (2008).

Expenses run from $2-$2.5 million per bowl game, more for Hawaii. Notre Dame’s estimated football expenses from two bowl trips were about $4.5 million, a conservative estimate.

So, their profits from the BCS contract and bowl appearances were probably about $3.35 million for three years total, averaging $1.1 million per year.

Where’s the beef in the argument that Notre Dame’s BCS provision is overwhelming favorable for the Irish?  Sounds like less feast with a slower famine.

In 2006, ND’s BCS profit went to financial aid, library acquisitions, and scientific instruments, not football. BCS monies do not give ND any unfair advantage in recruiting, for instance. (Source: Notre Dame Office of News and Information)

Who really has an unfair financial advantage in this arrangement? Who really benefits from a strong Notre Dame and the "Notre Dame Rule?" The BCS.

You’ve heard, “College football needs a strong Notre Dame.” Especially the BCS.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?