That’s a weak conference. You’re basing it on one year rather than looking at the historical significance of those teams. If UCF, Army, and Cincinnati had played ND this year none of them would be as highly ranked as they are now. Syracuse was proven to be a fraud. Notre Dame would best fit in the Big Ten but they would never go for it because it’s a landmine they’d never get thru without 1-4 losses. And, they would lose their annual rivalry games, as you mentioned. There needs to be an expanded playoff, with major conference champions getting a bye in week one. That will force ND to get on board. They lucked out this year...all of their rival teams were having down years.
I’m looking forward, not backward to consider the likely strength of teams. UCF, for instance, is a major-market team, the largest student body in the nation, and soaring upward in academic reputation.
Frankly, Notre Dame ALREADY played the best team in the Big Ten... and beat them... before they came into their own offensively. And they beat the third best team in the Big Ten. And after those three teams, it’s one HELL of a steep drop-off.
The notion that teams get OVER-rated in the rankings by having aneasy schedule is pure, 100% bull. The old Big East faced that kind of nonsense, and had a 5-0 bowl game record. Yeah, their competitors weren’t great, but that was PRECISELY because they were ridiculously UNDER-rated.
As for Army, their lost AT Oklahoma IN OVERTIME.
And yes, UCF will stick around. Idiots always said Boise State was a one-year wonder... they said with Chris Peterson gone, they’d be toast... They’re still ranked... No, the thought of them being national champions because they went undefeated WAS kinda silly, but they’ve still won seven of their last nine bowl games. And Boise State plays in Boise... not even the flagship school of Idaho... which is why I don’t include them.