Because their structure only works if there’s a conference that exists to satisfy that structure
If ND ever joins a conference, the ACC would have likely fell apart already by then
As long as the ACC exists, ND will continue to be independent
By being an independent, Notre Dame has the closest thing to a guaranteed playoff spot as you can get. No messy conference or conference championship game to worry about. No sharing of revenue with other teams. My sense is if Notre Dame wanted in the B10, the B10 would take them. Notre Dame does not want the B10 but wants the B12? Funny.
Clemson could get their full share and SMU could get their full payout. The ACC (and other conferences) choose to share the payouts.
How much does ND get if they do not make the playoffs vs how much did Georgia Tech get for not making it.
Each team gets a certain payout. No valid reason ND in a CFP spot should pay less than any other school. They do not choose to make other conference’s share their payouts.
Potential Realignment talk is starting to take place during the offseason now and 90% of it never happens. Drake Toll from Locked on Big 12 is not big on College Hoops so he’s coming up with whatever topics he can dig up but highly doubt any of it ever happens…
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The only scenario I can possibly see is a similar model they have with the ACC. Football stays independent but they join in everything else and they work out a schedule of 4-5 games with Big 12 opponents each season.
never gonna happen. even if the acc crumbles, ND will just build something else most like with their neighbors in the B10 or even more likely stay independent. with todays conferences and teams full of 1-4 games they want to fill but not lose their chance to play in the playoff; ND is a great game for too many to schedule.
imo, ND’s future is independent and back to the USC, boston college, purdue, stanford, the 3 service academies and whoever else they feel like.
I’m not so sure about that due to 9 game conference schedules. Less opportunities to put a schedule together without some sort of partnership for those remaining 4-5 games. I get what you’re saying with the “golden” opportunity to put ND on your schedule, but that means those mid-season scheduled games have to be negotiated with the conferences to open up a “bye” week for the school that has ND on the schedule.
That is why they partnered with the ACC in the first place. If ACC dissolves, ND will have to partner with someone in football to fill out their independent schedule. Of course the B10 makes the most sense, but the B10 will want them to be a B10 school. ND may have clout and leverage but they won’t be calling the shots on an unaffiliated partnership with the richest conference in college athletics.
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The Big Ten already has 18 teams….
They aren’t going to rework their schedules YEARLY just to appease a non-conference member
If the ACC crumbles, then ND will be forced to join a conference because there are only 3 Power Conferences left all who have 16+ teams…
The only way ND can remain an independent is if the ACC remains intact
Pretty much spot on with what @Section102 says above
Why are you so sure they will be forced? By who aliens from another planet maybe? ND can make a deal with the big10, BIG12 and sec for their non football sports and stay independent as a football entity…like they have done for decades.
They are a true blue blood and will always attract top teams wanted to play them. They generate tons of money because of their Catholic following. I am Catholic and after U of H Notre Dame is my second team.
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It’s not that simple. ND going back to a model of picking a school from 4 different conference to fill out the rest of their schedule must be negotiated with the conference AND that school has to be willing to move their BYE week early in the season. There is a lot of value and exposure in playing ND, but they know it can’t be done without a partnership similar to the one they have with the ACC currently.
There is validity to this article, albeit a “I’ll believe it when I see it” mindset. However, the SEC and the B1G can tell ND to join fully or kick rocks. They have FU money; the Big 12 does not if they up being the P3. The Big 12 is an ideal fit if ND has to move on from the ACC with the same model.
Yes and Notre Dame would remain independent.
Right. I never said they would join the Big 12 fully. But the most ideal situation for them if ACC dissolves is either join the B1G 100% or join the Big 12 with the football excluded.
Yes sir. Notre Dame has no incentives to join the big10 or sec but the BIG12 offers them an “acc type” deal.
If the ACC no longer can without their big brands, then a similar deal with the Big 12 would NOT be beyond the pale.
And from my perspective, it’d be cool to play them in most sports…and in football once in awhile.
It’ll be interesting because if ND can be somehow convinced to be a mere partner for the Big 12, then that could also entice FSU, Miami and Clemson to join as well without putting up a fight
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You can be sure this is Yormarck strategy.
Wouldn’t want 3 schools in Florida…has to be another option for #4
Why not? Big 12 has 4 Texas schools
- FSU gets Big 12 into SEC territory (which FOX would want)
- UCF gets us the central Florida market
- And Miami gets us south Florida market
That’s essentially the entire Florida market, while the SEC merely has northern Florida with the Gators
I think EITHER Georgia Tech or even Notth Carolina State or Virginia Tech as #4 would be a better strategic move.
Gets us into another new state and one with high NIL potential
NIL means nothing to the networks
They care about viewership for which FSU, Clemson and Miami have the highest amongst the ACC (outside of ND)
Viewership translates to better negotiations for media deals