Joel Klatt does not believe Notre Dame should join a conference

Even before Notre Dame took the field against Penn State in a College Football Playoff semifinal game, talk abounded about whether the Fighting Irish should be forced to join a conference in the future.

Penn State coach James Franklin was front and center leading the charge, suggesting Notre Dame should have to play in a conference like everyone else ahead of the game.

Following Notre Dame’s win, which sent the Irish to the national championship game, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt weighed in on the topic.

“Notre Dame is so good for the sport. They are so good for the sport,” Klatt said on his podcast. “Everyone whining about their conference this or that, you know what? The unique nature of Notre Dame kind of makes college football special. I’m not going to whine about their conference affiliation or whine about not having an affiliation. I’m not going to demand that they go anywhere or join this or that. Why? Because they don’t have to.”

Notre Dame does have a unique setup, and it’s not all advantageous for the Fighting Irish, either. Because Notre Dame doesn’t play in a conference, it can’t secure a first-round bye in the playoffs.

That makes the road a little tougher for the program in the postseason.

Playing in a conference, though? Clearly the team has shown it can overcome any hindrances by not doing so.

“They don’t have to,” Klatt said. “They’re going to play for the national championship as an independent. So like, hey, if you’re Notre Dame, you look at everybody that’s yelling about your conference and you say, ‘Hey, pound sand, man. We’re fine. We are doing just fine.'”

Marcus Freeman, the coach of the Irish whose popularity is increasing by the day, handled the question about as well as he could have when seated next to Franklin.

Essentially, he said he would do whatever the schedule-makers ask of him. If that means playing in a conference, so be it. If not, he’ll just keep on keeping on.

Seems to be working so far for Notre Dame.

“Marcus Freeman, on the other hand, because of the way he handles his business, he’s turned Notre Dame into a likeable product,” Klatt said. “And now here Marcus Freeman is and he’s going to take an underdog into the national championship against kind of the Death Star, supernova team, and I think he’s going to have a lot of the country on his side.”