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Message: [QUOTE="UConnJim, post: 1067012, member: 1559"] In the past 20 years, ND has only had one season, 2012 when they finished the regular season undefeated, where they would be a contender for a playoff slot, and they did play for the BCS championship. In fact, 2012 was the only year that ND has finished in the final Coaches poll top 10 in the past 20 years. The last time ND finished the regular season with 1 loss was in 1993. when they lost to BC at home in the regular season finale. Brian Kelly has been in the regular season: 7-5, 8-4, 12-0, 8-4. It is very hard to play a national schedule as you see many different playing styles. Thus, I don't think we will see ND in a playoff controversy in the near future. And, if ND not being in a conference became an issue for the playoff, and recruiting, they would aggressively push to move to an 8 team playoff. The 1993 season would have been the ultimate playoff test as here is how the teams stood at the end of the regular season: Auburn 11-0, Nebraska 11-0, West Virginia 11-0, Florida St. 10-1, Notre Dame 10-1, Texas A&M 10-1, Wisconsin 9-1-1, Ohio St. 9-1-1, Tennessee 9-1-1. (By the way, there was no championship game per se, but #1 FSU beat #2 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.) The final 4 would probably been Auburn, Nebraska, Florida St., and Notre Dame as the undefeated Big East champ would have been screwed and the Southwest Conference was weak that year. [/QUOTE]