Urban Meyer Calls Notre Dame’s Schedule “Easy” After Shock BYU Defeat

Notre Dame entered its matchup with BYU as the nation’s No. 2 team and suffered a 28-24 defeat. The loss ended a six-game stretch against opponents the program’s supporters have described as “average,” and it sparked a wave of commentary questioning the Fighting Irish’s playoff résumé.

Newsweek

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer joined the debate on the “Don’t @ Me” podcast with Dan Dakich. Meyer argued that Notre Dame’s success hinges on a relatively soft slate of opponents and that the team would struggle against the rigorous schedules typical of the SEC, ACC, or Big Ten.

Newsweek

Notre Dame’s toughest test before the BYU game was a 37-26 win over North Carolina, coached by Bill Belichick. The only other opponents viewed as genuine threats were No. 1 Miami and the now-ranked No. 2 BYU. Upcoming challenges include a game against No. 23 SMU two weeks after the Miami contest, matches that could determine whether the Irish remain in contention for the College Football Playoff.

Newsweek

Meyer’s comments framed the Irish’s schedule as a primary factor in their playoff positioning. He noted that the preseason outlook had him predicting a national-title run, but he now believes the team’s record would suffer against “SEC-type” competition. The critique underscores broader concerns among analysts that Notre Dame’s lack of “playoff-caliber” opponents may limit its ability to secure a CFP berth despite a strong win-loss record.

Newsweek

• “That schedule, when I saw it in the preseason, I picked them to win the national (title) — if not win it, they’d be right there,” — Urban Meyer, state head coach

Newsweek