Notre Dame is 2 games away from ACC membership

[hoopsupstate]

This is entirely why the B1G wants to expand the playoffs to 16 and guarantee 6+ spots for their member schools.

You’re correct, but it still won’t be enough to keep them all happy. The Big 10 wants to go to 24 teams. Even that won’t get Rutgers in

 

[phil77]

This is entirely why the B1G wants to expand the playoffs to 16 and guarantee 6+ spots for their member schools.

Yup sooner or later it will be B1G (AFC) versus SEC (NFC), that is where this is headed. How long it takes to get there is anyone's guess.

 

[Faegan]

College Football Mafia: "Nice program you got there. It'd be a shame if somethin' happened to it."

 

[Cusefan95]

But other schools choose to leave conferences for money that would not be Notre Dame's motive. If Notre Dame ever joins a conference, it is to gain access to the playoffs and a chance at a title. But I would argue playing an SEC schedule would actually hurt Notre Dames chances at the playoffs and title. Notre Dame isn't a regular university looking for realignment.

Notre Dame is just like every school in that it is looking to maximize money. Joining the SEC would boost SEC ratings in the Midwest and northeast slightly. Notre Dame ratings would potentially get a big boost as well based on playing mostly teams that get better ratings than them right now. Would networks combined be willing to pay @$180MM/yr more for SEC football with Notre Dame? If the answer is “yes”, I’d think it’s on the table.

Notre Dame made the playoffs last year. They automatically make it if they are top 12 going forward. If they landed where they did this year and were in the SEC, they would still be out. Under absolutely no circumstances are they going to join a conference for a playoff access they already had and will have going forward. Honestly. It’s even more absurd to propose that they would join a conference for a playoff access (that they already have), then it is to propose that they would join the SEC which I would admit is a longshot.

It’s all about money. It begins and ends there.

 

[Orangefan1]

I think the expansion of conferences is a broken experiment, someone alluded to the concern up above…Texas and Penn State being left out, USC an afterthought these large leagues are cannibalizing each other and will be lucky to make a playoff spot

 

[Oakland]

I may have missed where “hey, we might struggle in that new conference if we go there” has been a big factor in realignment. If it was, I’d like to know some examples - and we’d need to agree Maryland and Rutgers missed that memo.

Realignment has been about exactly one thing -$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. There is not one other criteria.

Notre Dame would need to “Lou Holtz on steroids” their admission standards if they wanted to compete in the SEC though. I’d agree with that.

How much are these players still students? Since there have been no cases of athletes being denied transfer because of their academic status (that I know of), I think admission standards have gone the way of the relevance of bowl games, amateurism, loyalty of coaches and players to schools, and my interest in any games that don't involve SU.

 

[Jack_Ball]

I think the expansion of conferences is a broken experiment, someone alluded to the concern up above…Texas and Penn State being left out, USC an afterthought these large leagues are cannibalizing each other and will be lucky to make a playoff spot

Wonder if there is any buyers remorse? If no one jumped?
Pac gets Oregon & USC in - Big 12 gets Texas & OK & Texas tech?, BIG gets Ohio State, Indiana & maybe Michigan, SEC gets UGA, Ole Miss, Bama & maybe Vandy? and ACC gets Miami , maybe UVA or Pitt?
Almost makes sense...haha

 

[Cusefan95]

How much are these players still students? Since there have been no cases of athletes being denied transfer because of their academic status (that I know of), I think admission standards have gone the way of the relevance of bowl games, amateurism, loyalty of coaches and players to schools, and my interest in any games that don't involve SU.

There’s not any transparency at this point, that’s for sure. I know last spring I was reading ND fans complaining about a couple guys they wanted in the portal they could get because they wouldn’t get in (don’t recall who the players were). Is that true? No idea. Is it really fans not wanting to accept the school didn’t have enough NIL and coping by saying the player was a dummy? No idea.

Maybe one of the lurker ND fans can give more accurate info…I know there’s a segment of fans that think too high a standard for admissions is an issue.

I’m not ashamed to admit the only reason I’ll watch any playoff game into see the coeds from the losing school crying at the end. Probably doesn’t reflect well on me…but I don’t care. Screw everyone.

 

[Briancuse]

There’s not any transparency at this point, that’s for sure. I know last spring I was reading ND fans complaining about a couple guys they wanted in the portal they could get because they wouldn’t get in (don’t recall who the players were). Is that true? No idea. Is it really fans not wanting to accept the school didn’t have enough NIL and coping by saying the player was a dummy? No idea.

Maybe one of the lurker ND fans can give more accurate info…I know there’s a segment of fans that think too high a standard for admissions is an issue.

I’m not ashamed to admit the only reason I’ll watch any playoff game into see the coeds from the losing school crying at the end. Probably doesn’t reflect well on me…but I don’t care. Screw everyone.

Isn't that why urban Meyer turned down notre dame? He wanted exceptions to get players he wanted who didn't qualify, and they told him no

 

[pokercuse08]

The approach they are taking makes the best schools in the ACC and Big 12 getting gobbled up by the big two more likely - and at that point they’d need to join the Big Ten anyway.

That's a great point. It's basically up to ND where they end up, and if they prefer the ACC they can stabilize things and possibly stop the realignment cycle for a while. Staying Independent is not going to be an option for them forever.

Also, a point that I think some are missing is that if they join the ACC it's a safe bet it'll be an automatic bid for them anytime they win the conference. So they can schedule four tough non-conference games, lose them all, and still have a manageable path to a playoff spot.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

who is notre dame to be so indignant as to refuse a high level bowl game? Yeah it sucks you didnt get in but its not like you really had much of a case. screwing those players out of practices and another game because you had your little feelings hurt. Go pound sand.

 

[HtownOrange]

Just guesswork and opinion:

I think Sankey (SEC) sees that the long term solution is one TV deal for CFB with several broadcasters and streamers. Just like all the pro sports deals. To get there, everyone has to agree to the same basic payout for the regular season. Post season revenue goes to the individual teams/conference if some form of split where winners get rewarded, just like the pros.

Petitti (B1G) sees only revenue dollars in the short term without regard to actual costs and long term effects (I.e. Lost revenue long term, e partnerships only interested in return, etc.)

I have no clue what Phillips sees for the ACC.

The Big 12 commissioner thinks too much like Pretitti.

Regardless, a minimum number of teams greater than the SEC and B1G is necessary to pull this off. The number is likely between 64 and 96, multiples of 8. Yes, ND must join a conference. This number would allow conference realignment back to regions, the way college football is most fun. The number must be large enough to cover most of the viewing audience and not be NFL lite, which is why less than 64 teams likely does not work. Further, keeping sufficient teams in the top tier keeps Congress from too much meddling.

Until the above can be attained, the powers that be will do everything they can to maximise their revenue and minimize opponents’ revenue.

How do we get from point A to Z, you ask? I haven’t a clue since there are too many “geniuses” trying to raise immediate revenue at the cost of future revenue. Yes, FSU and B1G, you are the prime movers. Even the SEC looked into this and concluded PE money was not a viable revenue stream - which says a lot about all the other schools who are allegedly more intellectual than the SEC schools. Hopefully, everyone takes a step back from the ledge and observes how the pros handle the TV deals and agrees to work together. However, when Petitti can throw a fit because the SEC does not want 24 teams in the playoffs and a guaranteed 6 from the B1G, little can be done until the B1G commissioner grows up.

 

[elimunelson]

ND doesn’t make moves based on one season. If they did they would have moved decades ago

Counter point is I like ND being independent. Really the last exit on old school college football mentality. Their status affords them this but it is a fu to the rest of the frankensteinian experiment going on

College football is crazy now. Rudderless rollerball entertainers w zero loyalty.

Jonathan would have been aghast it

 

[PhatOrange]

ND played 6 ACC teams this season: SU, Miami, NC State, BC, Pitt, Stanford.

For the math challenged, that’s a whole 2 games fewer than every ACC team played ACC opponents.

ND also played Arkansas, Boise State and Purdue this season. Any 2 of those 3 games could have been ACC teams. It’s not like ND needs to appeal to alums in Little Rock or Idaho.

ND will remain an “independent”. Even more so given the concession the CFP gave them starting next season. But it’s just so silly since they already are 75% an ACC member.

I hope the ghost of Gerry Faust possesses Marcus Freeman and they go 6-6 from 2026 until the end of time.

What's the concession?