It might be the truth but he has to put on the smiley face.

SMU in Texas - the 7th biggest TV draw (at best) at any given time in their own state behind UT-A, TAMU, Texas Tech, Baylor, Houston, and TCU. Let's not forget that they're also in a pro sports city with the Cowboys and Mavericks, but I suppose that matters a lot less since people in Texas will support both college and pro football, and the Mavs are trash. Cal and Stanford in California - the two least competitive football programs from the old PAC-12 are now two of the least competitive programs in the ACC, and to boot, both are located in the extreme north of the state in an area that has very successful pro football and basketball teams. Boston College in Massachusetts - By any measure, the absolute worst overall athletic department in the ACC both in terms of competitiveness and fan support, which figures because it's located in a town that is 100% dedicated to the local pro football and basketball teams. Syracuse in New York - A basketball school with zero football presence to speak of, that's only a brisk 4.5 hour drive north from NYC, the major population area that has multiple pro football and basketball teams. (See a trend here?) Also, in NYC, I'd say there's a better chance the average guy you pull off the street in Manhattan went to Penn State or Michigan than Syracuse. Pitt - Perpetually in the shadow of Penn State football, and also located in a city that is 100% dedicated to the local pro football team. When it comes to Florida, yeah, he's got a point. UF's a big school, but Miami and FSU are big brands and comparable TV draws down there as well when they're actually playing a decent opponent, so I can't roll my eyes too hard on this one. Also, LOL at the ND relationship being "OK." Yeah, I don't think either really party has a viable alternative to the current status quo.

Basically everybody recognizes we are stuck in limbo tied together for a few more years and there is no upside at this point in not keeping it all publicly amicable. Behind closed doors no one in the ACC trusts anybody further then they can be thrown.

"the ship be sinkin" When asked for clarification, Richardson responded "the sky's the limit"

See ACC Presidents, AD’s and Coaches, I don’t let them run the Conference much over their 2-3 football games on our network agreement a year. 🤔

"I have a personal connection to Notre Dame, and everybody knows that. I worked there. I had two kids graduate from there. I’m Catholic to the core. I believe in the institution. I value what Notre Dame means and what it means to the ACC and am excited about our future together."

In exchange for two or three home football games against the Irish that Notre Dame fans gripe about, we get to prop up the rest of its athletic program and provide football opponents in November when no one else will play the Irish. And we get an AD who makes misguided, juvenile rants against the ACC while practically slobbering over the commissioner of the overrated conference that gets 5 CFP bids - at least two or three of which are undeserved - but wants more. What a partnership. ** Edited by Tailgate Guru at 2/1/2026, 11:43:21 AM

When they dont want to join in full.

for recruiting purposes.

With NIL and the portal, that "need" is greatly diminished.

Hasn’t really worked out since the ACC has not yet let Notre Dame fully dictate the ACC programs it will and will not play in football. But that was obviously the play from ND’s standpoint.

I doubt that was the motivation. Keeping the ACC relatively intact to keep ND football independent was the primary driver, by far. ND's then president in 2008 labeled Stanford as ND's "aspirational peer". The two schools have a good relationship. Jack Swarbrick also graduated from Stanford Law School, so he had some personal affinity for Stanford.

...was a defensive measure to keep the ESPN deal and the ACC alive if 3 schools (FSU, Clemson, NC) left. No activation of the ESPN composition clause that kicks in if the ACC has less than 15 members. ND counts. ND has an affinity for Stanford, but the push was to help keep ND football independent by keeping the ACC/ESPN setup intact.

What a great gig!!