In the ACC, you have the 6 neighbors (Clemson, NC State, Wake, UNC, Duke and UVa) who have been there forever and are like those entitled neighbors that look down at anyone new coming in. And they still miss Maryland even though they’ll never admit it. Then you have the 4 neighbors (GT, FSU, Tech and Miami) who moved in when the neighborhood was still “the cool place to be.” Then the yankees (BC, SU and Pitt) moved in and drove the price up, with one homeowner (ND) buying a house but renting it out just to collect the money because he felt he’s too good to actually live there. After all that, one neighbor (UMCP) got fed up with the neighborhood and upgraded to a pricier location. That’s when the those questionable neighbors (UL) moved into UMCP’s house. UL’s children are truant partying troublemakers always getting the FSU, Miami and Clemson’s families kids into trouble. There are still rumors that these UL neighbors are selling drugs and running a brothel. Now, things have gotten strange, a Texan with a lot of oil money (SMU) and two wealthy California snobs (Cal and Stanford) have moved in. None of the neighbors know them except for the ND guy who only visits once a year to check on his property. Today, the Miami, FSU and Clemson neighbors constantly talk about leaving but can’t afford to. UVa and UNC have secretly already left and none of the neighbors are aware of it. Duke may also be planning to leave but none of the other neighbors seem to care. ND is thinking of upgrading their rental property to look more appealing to higher paying tenants but plan to stay in the neighborhood until the economy makes a downturn. The NCSU, GT, Wake and Tech neighbors still think this is a great neighborhood and are completely oblivious to what’s to happen in the near future. The Tech and NCSU dads cookout every weekend and are too drunk to pay attention. Their daughters secretly like that bad boy UL kid but the dads hate him. The yankees pretty much don’t give a crap and never liked their neighbors anyway. And the newcomers are just here for a little while. THIS is the ACC neighborhood in my eyes. ** Edited by Calamitous at 4/4/2026, 7:16:47 AM ** Edited by Calamitous at 4/4/2026, 7:28:39 AM ** Edited by Calamitous at 4/4/2026, 7:31:14 AM ** Edited by Calamitous at 4/4/2026, 7:34:08 AM

When the ACC agreed to this "special arrangement" with Notre Dame, it basically took a lead pipe to its own knees (Tonya Harding reference). Not because it was necessarily a bad deal. The problem is the perception it created because the ACC claimed to be a "power conference" and it was still willing to make a deal involving 1 of the 2 important sports in college athletics (aka a revenue sports). It wasn't like the ACC was doing what the Big Ten when it asked Johns Hopkins to join its conference in men's lacrosse. Some people may even say the decision likely secured the ACC (perceptually) as the weakest among the power conferences because a power conference with any type of strength wouldn't need to agree to such a deal. Now I do think the ACC decision makers probably thought foolishly that Notre Dame would eventually join the ACC as a full member. Outside of the COVID season, I doubt that will ever happen for one reason or another. Any conference that think it can get Notre Dame can change its stripes is living in La La Land. Don't get me wrong, there have been some benefits to the relationship. I am just not sure the pluses out weigh the negatives in the long run. Particularly if Notre Dame would be "happier" to rejoin the Big East.

The scheduling agreement with ND makes sense for the ACC. The P2 will never enter into such a deal in my opinion.

However, instead of Notre Dame being "forced" to rotate throughout the entire SEC, the scheduling arrangement could be limited to just the following schools: Oklahoma, Texas, TAMU, LSU, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. If a school (i.e. Auburn, Mizzou, Ole Miss, etc.) wants to be added to the list, then the school would have to demonstrate it could satisfy agreed upon requirements (i.e. ranked for so many years, generate certain TV ratings, etc.). I guess it is even possible those schools could be added on a probationary period to give both an out for years when it doesn't make cents (yes I did that intentionally) for Notre Dame to play that school in a particular season.

Joined the ACC as full members then the ACC would get a media deal comparable to the SEC or Big 10. Maybe it's left over from the Big East days when so many looked at Notre Dame as the savior of the conference. Personally, I think the ACC's problems stem from the underperformance of current membership. For example, Miami might finally be back, so Clemson and Florida State run and hide. If we could ever get Virginia Tech, Miami, Clemson, Florida State All at peak performance at the same time, the ACC would probably be fine. Especially if Georgia Tech, Louisville, and SMU are playing to their potential. And consider UNC living up to what people claim them to be. ** Edited by wwhokie1 at 3/30/2026, 10:19:12 AM

No way is it great…

Let's not hear the whining.

or against the school regardless of conference membership. And I couldn't care less about when Notre Dame does.

don’t have to listen to ND whine.