Notre Dame Football: Will 2020 circumstances inspire Irish to join ACC?

The argument for joining a conference

As previously mentioned, there are many reasons why staying independent has its benefits for the Irish. Notre Dame has long sold itself on its national brand, its independence, the guarantee that every home game is a nationally-televised game with NBC, the ability to schedule games in every corner of the United States, and much more.

But some of those things just aren’t quite as important as they used to be.

The Irish have the most recognizable campus in the Midwest. Assuming Navy continues to be a staple on Notre Dame’s schedule, the Irish still would have the capability to schedule that game at a neutral site every other year–perhaps this could be the way the Irish go to California in the years that USC comes to South Bend.

As for the schedule, it would remain interesting and manageable for Notre Dame, especially considering adding a potential conference championship game to the mix. Notre Dames still has the ability to play on both coasts (at least in most years).

And as far as television goes, the ACC has a television deal which would make streaming Irish games a relative breeze.

Finally, there are added benefits for Notre Dame as a football program: Even in years where the Irish stub their toe, a 13th data point (a win in the ACC Championship) could be enough to propel them to the College Football Playoff. Even in years when the Irish aren’t National Championship material, they would reap the benefits of conference bowl tie-ins and have the chance to play in a New Year’s Six bowl because of that relationship.

And lastly, while there are definitely pros and cons on both sides of this argument, all Notre Dame fans would likely agree that one of the best parts of joining a conference would be that national critics would no longer have as much to go on when unjustly criticizing the Fighting Irish, although I’m sure they would find something new.