Notre Dame secures independence in the College Football Playoff title game

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – You’ll never get them at a conference now.

No matter what happens to Notre Dame’s magical College Football Playoff run, no matter where the improbable run ends, this Fighting Irish team will go down in history as the one that saved the university’s beloved independent model.

If Notre Dame’s thrilling, last-second 27-24 victory Thursday over Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl wasn’t enough, consider the cumulative reward for advancing to the national championship game: $20 million .

Notre Dame, everyone, is playing with house money and there’s still one game left.

It doesn’t matter who the Irish face in the Cotton Bowl semifinals – Ohio State or Texas – it has no bearing on the most important takeaway that comes from playing in the national championship game for the first time since 2012.

In a sport awash in change, the only rock is independent Notre Dame. No matter how much money the power conferences try to throw at them.

“These guys are just built differently,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “This place is very special.”

After another unimaginable victory, Notre Dame is stronger than ever. Because what seemed like a Pollyanna idea to make big money with a program still making its way in the ever-changing landscape of sports is now a reality in the College Football Playoff.

It was earlier this week when Penn State coach James Franklin said, “Everyone should be in a conference” — a direct nod to Notre Dame and its longtime independent status.

But as college football moved forward this season with an expansion (and contraction) that gave the Power Four three 16-team conferences and one 18-team conference, Notre Dame stood firm.

Now we know why.

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The win over Penn State earned Notre Dame a $6 million payout from the CFP. The breakdown of Ireland’s postseason haul:

– $4 million to qualify for the CFP.

– $4 million for reaching the quarterfinals.

– $6 million for reaching the semifinals.

– $6 million for reaching the final.

When cornerback Christian Gray intercepted a missed throw by Penn State quarterback Drew Allar at the Penn State 42 with less than a minute to play to set up Mitch Jeter’s eventual game-winning 41-yard field goal with seven seconds left, Notre Dame had prepared his statement game.

And its mega payout.

Consider this: Notre Dame’s television contract with NBC is valued at $50 million per year. The playoff payout increases Notre Dame’s revenue to $70 million per year, nearly on par with the high-rent financial districts of SEC and Big Ten teams.

Bowl Subdivision teams that participate in conferences must share their CFP payouts with their conference, and SEC and Big Ten teams each earn an estimated $70 million.

If Notre Dame had participated in one of those conferences, it would have had to share its NBC contract and CFP proceeds. Now the Irish find themselves at the top — and still alone — in the college football landscape.

And bonus: They’re playing for their first national title since 1988.

That unthinkable season that seemed lost in September with a home loss to Northern Illinois now has the feel of fate. Somehow, Notre Dame was outscored by Penn State in the first half and found a way to fall behind by just seven.

Somehow, after Penn State scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take a 24-17 lead, the Irish found a way again. Whether it was the gutsy play of quarterback Riley Leonard – who was briefly ejected from the game late in the first half and was evaluated for a concussion – or the dynamic skills of forgotten wideout Jaden Greathouse.

Or a defense that repeatedly had to make big stops, including Gray’s heroics that set up the game-winning attack. The ball almost slipped from Gray’s hands as it hit the ground, but he took careful aim and pocketed it.

Notre Dame had not won a national title since defeating West Virginia in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl and before cable television’s explosive influence on sports. Before the CFP and the BCS and the Bowl Coalition and Bowl Alliance.

All the way back to the days of backroom postseason deals, when schools, conferences and bowls made decisions based on their best interests. And only after the games was a mythical national champion declared by the coaches’ poll and the media poll.

A win against Ohio State or Texas in the national championship game would be the final step in the season of the unthinkable. But the biggest victory, the biggest statement came in the Orange Bowl.

Because now you’ll never see Notre Dame in a conference again.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

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