Notre Dame Football: Could ACC consider playing games in pods?
By Ben Belden
Notre Dame football likely will be an unofficial member of the Atlantic Coast Conference this year. The conference is considering an interesting scheduling alternative.
Notre Dame football has always adapted to the times and that will continue to be true this season. Yesterday, Brian Kelly made it clear that Notre Dame will have no problem filling out its schedule, and given Notre Dame’s relationship with the ACC, that especially will be no problem.
But Notre Dame’s schedule could look especially interesting this season, especially if the ACC goes with a rumored home-and-home type of schedule that has been discussed in recent days.
In an article published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, there is some discussion that the ACC will divide itself into three divisions (or “pods,” if you will) that will feature 5 teams each. Each team would play the other team in its pod twice, once at home and once on the road. This would account for 8 total games.
It seems as if the aim of this schedule would be to reduce travel and potential exposure among players, though Notre Dame isn’t particularly close geographically to many teams in the ACC, outside of perhaps Louisville.
And to make this clear, teams in pods wouldn’t necessarily only be relegated to play only those teams, but it could potentially allow teams with less flexibility the chance to play a schedule that is more full.
This arrangement for the Irish wouldn’t seem to be great, but it’s better than nothing.
As mentioned, the Irish are somewhat of the odd man out when it comes to travel and 8 games against the likes of Louisville, Syracuse, Boston College, and Pittsburgh (all of the northernmost ACC teams) probably won’t excite many.
dark. Next. What could have been for the Irish without the pandemic?
Regardless, if there is a choice between those 8 games and then filling in with Miami, Clemson, BYU, and Navy — which would give Notre Dame a 12-game schedule — and playing no games at all, I’m going to fall on the side of choosing the former. The more Notre Dame football, the better.