Why is Notre Dame not in a conference for college football? Here's what to know as the Irish are set to compete in the CFP championship game on Monday:

With conference realignment being such a prevalent topic in college football over the last few years, Notre Dame has been an interesting discussion. With their independence considered, many have wanted the Fighting Irish to join a conference to potentially establish some level of equality.

We now know the entire 2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football schedule, including dates and home/away locations. The Irish have seven home games on the schedule. Notre Dame will also face several teams that are considered rivals. Navy, USC, Boston College, and Stanford are on the schedule.