Like it or Not, Notre Dame's Choice to Stay On the Course of Independence Has Paid Off

If all goes according to plan on Saturday morning, the only remaining obstacles standing between Notre Dame and the College Football Playoff will be Syracuse and Stanford.

In all fairness to both of those programs, we're nearing "done deal" status.

No conference championship game to stress over. No drama over the bracket bubble. Heck, the Irish are likely to host a playoff game for the second consecutive season by the time it's done.

Despite losing two games to begin the season—albeit close games against quality teams—Notre Dame still has everything in front of it. Despite playing outside of a conference, thus being able to watch champions be crowned before the bracket is finalized, Marcus Freeman's group will have the opportunity to take last year's runner up showing one step further.

We're getting ahead of ourselves, sure, but not by much. A win over Pitt on Saturday, and the conversation will change. The Notre Dame fans will roar, as they should. And the Notre Dame haters, of which there are many, will yearn for change, much like they have in the past.

And Notre Dame should do absolutely nothing different.

Don't listen to the haters. Embrace them.

Don't join a conference. Stay free as long as possible.

Whether the rest of the country wants to hear this or not, Notre Dame has never been in a better position as an independent than it is right now.

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In a one-season snapshot, Notre Dame's resume is complicated. The Irish started the season 0-2, falling to Miami and unbeaten Texas A&M by a combined four points. They have since won seven straight games, all of which have come by double digits.

Those wins aren't exactly dazzling. The highlight is unquestionably a hard-fought home victory against USC. Dominating victories over Arkansas, Boise State and Navy are probably next up in terms of resume boosts. A win over Pittsburgh on Saturday will likely be this team's second-best victory of the year.

In terms of overall resume, Notre Dame is No. 13 in strength of record despite lacking meaningful wins. In terms of quality losses, something this selection committee seems to value greatly, the Irish have plenty to offer.

If this path to the playoff sounds familiar, it should. Last year, Notre Dame inexplicably lost to Northern Illinois in Week 2—a defeat that had many tossing the team from the playoff then and there.

The Irish responded by winning 10 straight regular-season games to make the postseason. They then validated that placement by winning three consecutive playoff games to earn a spot in the national championship.

Since 2018, Notre Dame has made the playoff three times. Being an independent hasn't hurt this team's chances. In fact, it's been quite the opposite.

Presently, there are zero reasons for Notre Dame to join a conference. In fact, the new College Football Playoff rules, which allow for non-conference champions to secure first-round byes, cater to the Irish.

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While playing one less game than other teams could serve as a detriment to Notre Dame in some seasons, that has not been the case thus far. Nor is it likely to be an issue this year if the team stays unbeaten.

Notre Dame already benefits greatly from being Notre Dame. Let's make that clear. Being free of one potential loss is a welcome advantage, as does being one of the most polarizing, popular programs in all of college football.

As long as a group of human beings decides the playoff, Notre Dame will have an edge. We can try to deny this all we want, but the brand matters. And this brand is bigger than most.

The perks of playing outside a conference, however, go well beyond playoff manipulation. In fact, the financial incentive of staying put in this specific era is enormous.

Notre Dame's current television deal with NBC runs through 2029, and it pays the Irish an estimated $50 million per year. With its partnership with the ACC, the Irish also receive a partial share of revenue, which allows for the stability and financial incentives of being in a conference without the actual confines of one.

In terms of playoff incentives, Notre Dame was paid a reported $20 million last season for its deep playoff run. While other teams split this revenue with their conferences, the Irish were able to pocket these bonuses, which escalated every round.

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It's almost too good to be true. From scheduling flexibility to revenue to postseason access, Notre Dame has less incentives than ever before to join a conference.

As the playoff expands, and it likely will again soon, the Irish will continue to thrive with one less game on the schedule than most, tactically selecting each season's schedule with the goal of making a deep postseason run.

It's almost too good to be true, which is not what everyone wants to hear. Notre Dame has chosen to stay the course in terms of independence, and the outcome has been seemingly lucrative on all fronts.

This season is no exception, no matter what one thinks about the path to arrive here. A win on Saturday, and the College Football Playoff is that much closer, resume be darned, whether you're willing to embrace it or not.