Notre Dame/ACC/B12 Question
I know ND is firmly holding as a football independent. If for some reason ND feels it has to join the conference (and for this argument, let's say the move is done by or before 2031), what would ND prefer? Also for this argument, I want to assume AQs have been passed for the CFP, and no other realignment has taken place. For te B10/SEC offers, ND would get to bring one other team.
Would ND prefer:
1. Join the B10 in everything, though they may end up feeling just like a top B10 team w/out the specialness of being independent - however, they will get to go coast-to-coast, though miss a lot of the SE USA.
2. Join the SEC in everything - they would be the loan mid-west team in this scenario, but may feel limited in being only in the SE portion of the US.
3. Join a hodge-podge of the best teams/brands from the ACC/B12 to form a 20-team league. This conference would be spread out like the B10, but ND would feel like they are the ones in control of the conference. I don't think they would join the ACC or B12 as they are now.
If #3 would happen, could you see the B10 and SEC agree to have 4 AQs for the B10, SEC, and this new hodge-podge? This would give a 4-4-4-1-3 CFP model. B10/SEC fans that like the thought of AQs may like this better - it still only gives ACC/B12 teams that make it into this new conference 4 bids. It also could eliminate ND from getting an at-large bid (unless they are the 5th/6th best team of the conference and get an at-large that way). If ND is almost always a top-4 in their conference, that gives the B10/SEC another opening. If the people in charge don't want a committee, they could go 5-5-5-1-0.
Posted: 08/04/2025 at 01:03 PM ET
Thread Replies (32)
Notre Dame/ACC/B12 Question
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-- The_VT_Rock
Aug 04, 2025 at 01:03 PM ET
The_VT_Rock
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08/04/25 01:03 PM ET
I heard that ND signed a contract if they joined in 🏈, it would be the ACC
-- Stech
Aug 04, 2025 at 03:47 PM ET
Stech
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08/04/25 03:47 PM ET
I wonder that changed with the change in rights package last time
-- 1947Sunbowl
Aug 05, 2025 at 09:03 AM ET
1947Sunbowl
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08/05/25 09:03 AM ET
I read or heard somewhere that there is a buyout for ND, but it isn't as
-- Maroon Baboon
Aug 04, 2025 at 05:55 PM ET
Maroon Baboon
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08/04/25 05:55 PM ET
Notre Dame's buyout would be much less because
-- wwhokie1
Aug 05, 2025 at 10:28 AM ET
wwhokie1
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08/05/25 10:28 AM ET
The contract is supposed to be through the 2036-37 academic year
-- mrcaniac
Aug 04, 2025 at 04:29 PM ET
mrcaniac
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08/04/25 04:29 PM ET
If everyone can get out you better believe ND has an out if needed.
-- goldendomer
Aug 04, 2025 at 04:29 PM ET
goldendomer
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08/04/25 04:29 PM ET
Big 10, but I would not use the word preferred, more like forced.**
-- goldendomer
Aug 04, 2025 at 02:02 PM ET
goldendomer
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08/04/25 02:02 PM ET
So if ND was forced to join the Big Ten
-- Millpoint
Aug 05, 2025 at 10:12 AM ET
Millpoint
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08/05/25 10:12 AM ET
Likely Stanford because for some dumb reason we love them. **
-- goldendomer
Aug 05, 2025 at 10:39 AM ET
goldendomer
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08/05/25 10:39 AM ET
If they go beyond 20, who else?
-- Millpoint
Aug 05, 2025 at 11:43 AM ET
Millpoint
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08/05/25 11:43 AM ET
My guess we will literally drag Cal with us.. But Stanford is a school we
-- goldendomer
Aug 05, 2025 at 12:11 PM ET
goldendomer
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08/05/25 12:11 PM ET
In a 24 team B1G, I see ND/Stanford joining the USC/UCLA/ORE/WA division.
-- hokieZ71
Aug 05, 2025 at 11:28 AM ET
hokieZ71
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08/05/25 11:28 AM ET
If given the choice, you don't think ND would prefer to be in the East
-- VTHokie2000
Aug 05, 2025 at 11:35 AM ET
VTHokie2000
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08/05/25 11:35 AM ET
Wouldn’t completely surprise me “if” ND joined a Conference, it’s the SEC.
-- Stech
Aug 04, 2025 at 06:14 PM ET
Stech
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08/04/25 06:14 PM ET
ND is not making an athletics move based on "academic conference"
-- Pylons
Aug 05, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Pylons
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08/05/25 11:00 AM ET
That’s not what Father Jenkins said when they joined the ACC for 5 🏈 games
-- Stech
Aug 05, 2025 at 05:18 PM ET
Stech
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08/05/25 05:18 PM ET
We have a new president and he is much more aggressive with the football
-- goldendomer
Aug 05, 2025 at 06:38 PM ET
goldendomer
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08/05/25 06:38 PM ET
Point is Academics still matter to ND & the Conference they choose to join,
-- Stech
Aug 05, 2025 at 08:26 PM ET
Stech
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08/05/25 08:26 PM ET
Yes, they (presidents/chancellors) say it for a reason.
-- Pylons
Aug 06, 2025 at 10:16 AM ET
Pylons
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08/06/25 10:16 AM ET
I agree with you it has little effect on Academics and I agree it can be
-- Stech
Aug 06, 2025 at 06:39 PM ET
Stech
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08/06/25 06:39 PM ET
Snobbery exists in every slice of life.
-- Pylons
Aug 06, 2025 at 07:46 PM ET
Pylons
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08/06/25 07:46 PM ET
Necessary lip service. The charade that athletics somehow has
-- Pylons
Aug 05, 2025 at 06:30 PM ET
Pylons
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08/05/25 06:30 PM ET
I think they would stay independent, and ink long term football
-- Big12 guy
Aug 04, 2025 at 02:30 PM ET
Big12 guy
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08/04/25 02:30 PM ET
The Big 12 would not really be won't we're looking for in terms of match-up
-- goldendomer
Aug 04, 2025 at 02:34 PM ET
goldendomer
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08/04/25 02:34 PM ET
I agree 100%. Money however, could talk a bit louder. Football however,
-- Big12 guy
Aug 04, 2025 at 02:45 PM ET
Big12 guy
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08/04/25 02:45 PM ET
If it is a hybrid Big/12 with a 3 game commitment than ND likely would be
-- goldendomer
Aug 04, 2025 at 02:53 PM ET
goldendomer
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08/04/25 02:53 PM ET
I agree with this as well. ND has established what their
-- Big12 guy
Aug 04, 2025 at 03:27 PM ET
Big12 guy
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08/04/25 03:27 PM ET
If the P2 ever decide to do their own thing (including scheduling) and ND
-- VTHokie2000
Aug 05, 2025 at 09:57 AM ET
VTHokie2000
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08/05/25 09:57 AM ET
It will come down to access to the national championship - period. **
-- Big12 guy
Aug 05, 2025 at 12:16 PM ET
Big12 guy
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08/05/25 12:16 PM ET
Which national championship though? Currently DI football has 2 national
-- VTHokie2000
Aug 05, 2025 at 12:24 PM ET
VTHokie2000
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08/05/25 12:24 PM ET
The only one that counts. **
-- Big12 guy
Aug 05, 2025 at 12:29 PM ET
Big12 guy
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08/05/25 12:29 PM ET