Dabo Swinney: Notre Dame should play 13 games as independent

Dabo Swinney has an idea if Notre Dame doesn't join a conference. The Irish should play an extra game for College Football Playoff eligibility.

The Clemson coach suggested that Notre Dame add a 13th game to its schedule if it continues to be an independent. His comments come shortly after Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said Notre Dame should join a conference to be eligible for the College Football Playoff.

The Irish currently have an affiliation agreement with the ACC. Notre Dame plays five ACC opponents on a rotating basis and also plays Texas, USC and Stanford this year. They play nine power conference opponents in total, the same number of power five opponents the SEC requires after its one-out-of-conference power five opponent rule goes into effect.

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A 13th game isn't abnormal in college football. Teams that travel to play Hawaii are given dispensation by the NCAA to play a 13th game before conference championships and bowl games are taken into account. But we're not sure what a 13th game would do for Notre Dame other than giving the school more potential revenue with another home game.

The Irish could easily schedule a weak opponent for the 13th game and almost guarantee a win if it wanted to. And NBC wouldn't have a problem with televising another Notre Dame home game.

Or maybe the solution is for Notre Dame to travel to Hawaii every year and simply use the NCAA exemption? We're sure Irish players would enjoy the trip, especially if it came as winter began to descend upon South Bend.

For more Clemson news, visit TigerIllustrated.com.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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