Notre Dame’s recent victory over Indiana in college football was undoubtedly sweet for the Fighting Irish faithful. As with any rivalry win, especially one against an in-state foe, the euphoria of securing the win offers pride and bragging rights. But while fans bask in the glow of another victory, there’s an underlying question that demands attention: is this the best version of Notre Dame? And more importantly, is it the type of program the school truly wants to be in the ever-evolving landscape of college football?
Let’s be clear: Notre Dame has every reason to enjoy its victory over Indiana. Beating a rival school, especially one that’s part of your regional fabric, stirs emotions that every fanbase can understand. But as a premier football program with a rich history, Notre Dame finds itself at a critical juncture. While Indiana may serve as an occasional measuring stick in terms of success, it should not be the standard by which Notre Dame measures its worth.
For years, the Fighting Irish have clung to their independent status, refusing to join a conference, and it has its merits. Independence offers autonomy, flexibility, and a schedule that can be tailored to the team’s needs and aspirations. But with the growth of super conferences, and with programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State asserting their dominance, Notre Dame faces a dilemma. Should it continue to relish in victories against programs like Indiana, or should it shift its focus to competing with the elite in the most competitive conference environments?
Beating Indiana is a moment of triumph, but it should not be the centerpiece of Notre Dame’s future ambitions. The program has too much history, too many resources, and too much potential to stay tethered to regional rivalries that don’t truly challenge the team’s national standing. It is time for the Fighting Irish to redefine what it means to be elite in college football.
First, Notre Dame must seriously consider the benefits of joining a conference, something it has historically resisted. Yes, the school’s independence is a source of pride, but it’s becoming an increasingly untenable position in a world where most of college football’s powerhouse programs are in conferences with defined championship structures. The College Football Playoff (CFP) system, with its conference championships as an automatic pathway to the postseason, increasingly leaves independent teams like Notre Dame at a disadvantage.
The reality is that in the current landscape, beating Indiana won’t get Notre Dame the national championship it covets. Beating elite teams in critical moments of the season, especially in a high-pressure conference environment, will do more to elevate Notre Dame to its rightful place among the college football elite. That means the program has to recalibrate its goals and expectations. No longer should Notre Dame’s primary concern be beating Indiana. Instead, it should look at the top-tier teams in college football and ask: how can we consistently compete with them?
For the Fighting Irish to redefine themselves, they must embrace a more rigorous path to success. A step toward joining a conference like the Big Ten or the ACC could help elevate Notre Dame’s strength of schedule and provide more opportunities for high-stakes games that test their mettle against the nation’s best. The allure of being a free agent in the college football world has worn thin. Notre Dame needs to adapt if it wants to reclaim its position among the upper echelons of the sport.
Furthermore, this isn’t just about winning games. It’s about changing the culture to match the intensity and expectations of a true national contender. Beating Indiana might feel good now, but it doesn’t move the needle in the broader narrative of college football supremacy. The world has changed, and it’s time for Notre Dame to not just enjoy beating Indiana, but to rethink how it competes at the highest level, to evolve with the times, and to aim for championships that are measured by a higher standard than regional dominance.
The time has come for Notre Dame to redefine itself. It should celebrate its victories, especially when they come against familiar foes like Indiana, but the program should never lose sight of the ultimate goal: national supremacy. The Irish may be riding high now, but to truly be relevant on the national stage, they must think beyond Indiana and start aiming for the very top of college football’s mountain.