Joey McGuire wasn’t talking to Notre Dame. He didn’t say their name. But it’s pretty clear who he was talking about.
While speaking about Texas Tech’s win over BYU in his post-game press conference, McGuire offered praise for BYU’s decision to join the Big 12. He called it a “big-time move” and said it showed they were willing to compete in a real conference. Then came the line that caught fire on social media: “They didn’t want to play an independent schedule like some people do.” That was enough to get Notre Dame fans up in arms, and they’ve been letting McGuire know ever since.
The clip spread fast, and it didn’t take long for Irish fans to flood the comments. Some called it disrespectful. Others just laughed it off. Either way, the message landed. McGuire didn’t need to spell it out. He sees value in playing through a full conference slate, with weekly matchups against opponents who know your tendencies and aren’t afraid to knock you out of the postseason race. He respects programs that take that route. And he made it clear he doesn’t see the same in independent scheduling.
Notre Dame has built a national brand on doing things their way. That includes staying independent while the rest of the sport moved into power conferences. It’s worked for them. They’ve had the TV deals, the rankings, and the postseason appearances to prove it. However, the independent model also offers flexibility that most programs lack, especially when it comes to avoiding a week-to-week grind against league opponents.
That’s the part McGuire was taking aim at. Whether Irish fans like it or not, he was making a point about accountability. BYU could have stayed out of the fight and kept doing what it had done for years. Instead, it joined the Big 12 and jumped into a conference schedule where there’s nowhere to hide. That move earned McGuire’s respect.
Notre Dame fans may not agree with him. But they heard him loud and clear.
