If you are a college football fan, you probably think that your favorite team constantly has the odds stacked against them. It’s your team vs. everyone else: rivals, the NCAA, geography, even the weather. College football fans can spot any statistic that allows their team to be framed as the disrespected or disadvantaged underdog. One of the most frequently cited grievances centers around bye weeks—specifically, how many opponents get an extra week of rest before taking on their team.
In 2019, seven of Notre Dame’s 12 opponents play the Fighting Irish right after their bye week: New Mexico, Bowling Green, USC, Virginia Tech, Duke, Navy and Boston College.