Herbstreit calls Notre Dame's schedule an "embarrassment" before BYU game
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit called Notre Dame's schedule an "embarrassment" and "incredibly unfair" to other playoff contenders before its Saturday game at BYU. Newsweek uses it to question how the CFP judges Notre Dame, while Breitbart accuses Herbstreit of inconsistency and ESPN-related bias.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2On Friday 16 October 2026, ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit criticised Notre Dame's schedule as the undefeated Fighting Irish prepared to travel to face BYU. NewsweekN “Leading up to the game, college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit sounded off on the Irish, calling their easy schedule an “embarrassment.”” Read at Newsweek ↗ BreitbartR “In a Friday interview with ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, Herbstreit tore into the Irish, calling their schedule an “embarrassment.”” Read at Breitbart ↗ Mixed · 2Herbstreit said Notre Dame plays only two games in which it will be challenged, BYU, where it is favoured, and Miami at home, and contrasted that with what Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State face: "That cannot continue. That's an embarrassment and incredibly unfair." NewsweekN ““Notre Dame plays two games where they’re going to be challenged. This one [BYU] where they’re favored, and Miami at home,” Herbstreit said Friday on “Get Up.”” Read at Newsweek ↗ BreitbartR “That’s an embarrassment and incredibly unfair.”” Read at Breitbart ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek reports Notre Dame is 6-0 after a 14-2 season in which it missed the College Football Playoff, with wins over Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina and Stanford; it describes the team as not really challenged so far. NewsweekN “Now the Fighting Irish are undefeated at 6-0 midway through the 2026 season, but they haven’t really been challenged.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1After BYU, Notre Dame hosts Navy, No. 3 Miami, Boston College and No. 24 SMU, then closes the regular season at Syracuse; Newsweek says all but the Miami game are ones the Irish are expected to win. NewsweekN “After BYU, Notre Dame will host Navy, No. 3 Miami, Boston College and No. 24 SMU all at home before closing the regular season at Syracuse.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek says the comments again raise the question of how the playoff committee values teams, especially an independent like Notre Dame that never plays a conference schedule, compared with Big Ten and SEC contenders. NewsweekN “This again calls into question how the CFP values teams and what could change in the future, especially with Notre Dame being an independent that never has to battle through a conference schedule.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Right · 1Breitbart's Dylan Gwinn, in an opinion piece, says Notre Dame plays three ranked opponents in 2026, two in the top 10 and one on the road, and argues Herbstreit's label is too strong. BreitbartR “They play three ranked opponents in 2026, two ranked inside the top 10, and one on the road.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 1Gwinn argues Herbstreit was inconsistent for not criticising Miami, which he notes has a broadcast partnership with ESPN and only one ranked opponent (Notre Dame), or Texas Tech and BYU, which he says have two ranked opponents each. BreitbartR “Miami, an ACC member who maintains a broadcast partnership with Herbstreit’s employer, ESPN, has only one ranked team on its entire schedule: Notre Dame.”“BYU, Notre Dame’s dance partner this Saturday night, also has only two ranked opponents: Notre Dame and Utah.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1Gwinn also notes that Herbstreit predicted Notre Dame would win the national championship and called it the best team in college football in the offseason, but defended Alabama's playoff inclusion over the Irish last year; he does not show that employer ties influenced Herbstreit's comments and says it is unclear when or why Herbstreit changed. BreitbartR “Then he spent the offseason calling Notre Dame the best team in college football, and now he’s back to his old tricks.”“It’s unclear when or why he changed, but sadly, he’s become just like every other college football talking head.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Straight sports news piece reporting Herbstreit's remarks and using them to examine Notre Dame's schedule and what the playoff committee rewards.
- Emphasis
- Notre Dame's unchallenged 6-0 start, the remaining schedule, and the CFP's treatment of an independent versus SEC and Big Ten teams.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not question Herbstreit's consistency or note ESPN's business ties to Miami.
- Charged language
- “Takes Aim”“snubs”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Opinion column that turns the remarks on Herbstreit, accusing him of inconsistency and selective criticism tied to ESPN's broadcast deals.
- Emphasis
- Schedule comparisons with Miami, Texas Tech and BYU, Herbstreit's earlier shifts on Notre Dame, and ESPN's financial interests.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not address the playoff-fairness point behind Herbstreit's remarks or Notre Dame's 6-0 record and 14-2 season.
- Charged language
- “love affair”“Charmin-soft”“rant”
What every side reports
- Herbstreit called Notre Dame's schedule an "embarrassment" on Friday ahead of the BYU game.
- He said only BYU and Miami at home would challenge Notre Dame, and that the situation is unfair to Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State.
- Notre Dame faces BYU on Saturday.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Herbstreit's criticism is fair and consistent
- Centre
- Treats it as a prompt to question how the CFP values teams, with an easier Notre Dame schedule than Big Ten and SEC contenders.
- Right
- Argues "embarrassment" is too strong, says Miami, Texas Tech and BYU have similarly soft schedules, and suggests ESPN ties explain the selective criticism.
Kirk Herbstreit person
Says Notre Dame's easy schedule is an embarrassment and unfair to teams like Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State that face tougher slates.
“That cannot continue. That’s an embarrassment and incredibly unfair.” — Newsweek
Notre Dame Fighting Irish organisation
Undefeated at 6-0 and travelling to BYU; coverage gives no response from the team or coach Marcus Freeman to the remarks.
“On Saturday, though, comes the real test, as Notre Dame travels to Provo to face the undefeated BYU Cougars.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Kirk Herbstreit Takes Aim at Notre Dame Ahead of BYU Game
Neutral Reports Herbstreit's remarks and uses them to raise questions about Notre Dame's schedule and the CFP.
Right1 article
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BreitbartR · · Opinion
Critical Opinion column accusing Herbstreit of hypocrisy and bias linked to ESPN's broadcast partnerships.
- 16 Oct 21:07 First BreitbartR WATCH: GWINN: Kirk Herbstreit Calls Notre Dame's Schedule an 'Embarrassment,' But Leaves Out One Crucial Fact Opinion
- 17 Oct 00:16 +3h 9m NewsweekN Kirk Herbstreit Takes Aim at Notre Dame Ahead of BYU Game
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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