Every program needs a benchmark
There’s been a changing of the guard in college football. Nick Saban retired from Alabama, the head coach who just won the national title went to the NFL, and the coach who just lost in the national title game took over for Saban.
Will those coaching changes have a massive impact on the programs involved? It seems likely that Washington will suffer more than Michigan or Bama, especially since the Wolverines are promoting from within and the Crimson Tide have a decade-and-a-half of championship architecture. But it’s worth mentioning that these changes are occurring at the most tumultuous point in the history of college football.
Thanks to Name, Image and Likeness, parity has increased, to some degree, in college sports. Of course, some programs (Georgia football, UConn men’s basketball, and South Carolina women’s basketball come to mind) consistently dominate despite the turbulence of the current collegiate sports landscape.
And amidst it all, the Notre Dame football program wants to reach the peak of the mountain it hasn’t summited since 1988. So, I’m curious to know how Irish fans, desperately dreaming of a return to glory, measure the state of Notre Dame football in 2024.
In other words, what non-Notre Dame football program provides the barometer for the Irish in your mind? It’s an intentionally broad question that can be taken a few ways. You can compare Notre Dame to similarly-situated programs (based on academics, history, etc.), to traditional rivals, or just to the most successful modern programs (whether that’s from the perspective of NIL success, wins, CFP appearances, or national championships).
So which program would you choose? And feel free to elaborate in the comments, especially if your choice is “other.”