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Texas Tech dominated BYU in what was billed as the week 11 game of the week. This was No. 7 vs No. 8 matchup that had many intriguing matchups but was still expected to be close.
This game was a clash of two of the more revered head coaches in the Big 12 conference. Both Kalani Sitake and Joey McGuire have their programs moving in the right direction. Especially as it pertains to NIL and paying players.
There is respect between these coaches so it should have come as no shock to learn that McGuire had some interesting things to say in support of Sitake. That part was expected as Sitake had nice things to say about Texas Tech ahead of their week 11 game.
What was significantly less predictable was McGuire setting his sights on Notre Dame. Texas Tech has not played Notre Dame this year and don’t play them this year, barring a college football playoff matchup. In McGuire’s comments following the win over BYU, he decided to reopen a debate about Notre Dame remaining an independent.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire sends shots at Notre Dame over independent schedule. Absolute G pic.twitter.com/KEMw2ny5Yp
— Damian TriLLard (@Citronatti) November 10, 2025McGuire’s comments are not new but might be fueled by a couple factors. Kirk Herbstreit recently remarked that the ACC is the most disrespected conference in the minds of the college football playoff committee. However, since the inception of the college football playoff there has been a noticeable shift in sentiment between the Power 4 conferences, and the odd man out has not been the ACC.
The Big 12 for a decade has been considered, the fourth wheel as it were. With 4 four teams within striking distance of the Big 12 title game in 2024, just about every analyst in the country said the Big 12 champion will get in, but that is likely it.
The playoff has been dominated by SEC and Big Ten schools since it began. While Notre Dame as an independent has made multiple playoffs, the overwhelming consensus has been SEC and Big Ten first, then the ACC, with the Big 12 being the one Power 4 conference that has to do more to prove they belong.
Another interesting subplot is Texas Tech’s GM James Blanchard turning down Notre Dame back in the summer. According to Sports Illustrated, in June of this year, Blanchard turned down an offer to leave Texas Tech for Notre Dame.
“Turning down the Notre Dame job was hard. You walk in there and you see Marcus Freeman... this guy's like a rockstar. He has a glow about him when he walks in the room. You can just tell why he's so successful. But I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night if I hadn't accomplished that mission with Coach McGuire. People are going to have many times to take other jobs and opportunities, but you're not going to have a lot of times, a lot of opportunities, to make history."
The debate over Notre Dame choosing to remain an independent, despite plenty of voices of opposition will likely rage on for years to come. Or until they decide to join a conference. To non-Fighting Irish fans, the argument is simple. Virtually every other team that aspires to make the playoff, is forced to comply with the conference dynamic.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi was asked if he thought this week’s game versus Notre Dame was a ‘must win’ game. Narduzzi gave an interesting answer that seems to put him closer to McGuire’s side of that debate. “Absolutely not. It is not an ACC game,” Narduzzi replied. “I’d gladly get beat 103 or 110 to 10 in that game. They can put a hundred on us, as long as we win the next two after that.”
Notre Dame can remain an independent if they choose to. As long as the perception is Notre Dame benefits by not participating in a conference, this debate will continue to reappear each and every year Notre Dame is in a playoff contention position.
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