Was the SEC trying to help Notre Dame?

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish players celebrate with fans in the stands after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Was SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey trying to help Notre Dame when he requested that next week’s Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl games be flipped?

Right now the Fighting Irish are slated to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 EST with Texas — an SEC school — set to take on Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 at 7:30 EST.

Notre Dame’s Allstate Sugar Bowl contest in New Orleans against the SEC’s Georgia Bulldogs was pushed back a day due to a terrorist attack that took place just a few blocks from the Caesars Superdome.

It’s possible that flipping the games around would help the Irish by giving them an extra day of rest — indeed, Sankey pointed out that Notre Dame could be at a disadvantage. Penn State played on New Year’s Eve, and the Sugar Bowl was scheduled for New Year’s Day night. So even before the postponement, the winner would have one fewer day of rest.

Notre Dame could be at a two-day disadvantage compared to Penn State.

On the other hand, Sankey may have been concerned about Texas getting too much rest — the College Football Playoff teams that had byes went 0-4. Though Texas did need double overtime to beat Arizona State on New Year’s Day.

Sankey’s request was denied.

There’s two strong arguments to be made for flipping — and two against. Let’s break it down below.

Pro: Flipping would help Notre Dame get more rest

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) hands the ball to Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) during the first quarter at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/sec-trying-help-notre-dame-182337420.html

Author : Fighting Irish Wire

Publish date : 2025-01-03 18:23:00

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