Notre Dame football: What will it take for the Irish to join a conference?
By Andrew Hall
Notre Dame football: What will it take for the Irish to join a conference?
Home for ND’s Olympic sports could be the Achilles heel for independence
Conference commissioners could force Jack Swarbrick and the Notre Dame administration to drop independence by demanding full membership. Currently, the Notre Dame football program and the rest of the athletic department possess a hybrid relationship with Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Notre Dame football team meets its obligation to the ACC by playing member schools. In exchange, the ACC grants access to the Irish non-football programs.
When the two parties inked this deal in 2012, the college football landscape appeared much different. The “Bowl Championship Series” still graced the presence of the unique sport. An ACC, desperate to solidify its permanence in major college football, may attempt to push Notre Dame football to become a full member of the conference.
Several questions immediately arise. Does the ACC possess the leverage to make such a bold move? Would the ACC risk losing Notre Dame as a partial member if the Irish choose another conference instead?
The brand of the Notre Dame football team helps the ACC generate revenue. If the ACC forces the issue, the Irish might elect a different conference. In other words, if forced to join a conference, the ACC might not be Notre Dame’s first preference.
In holding the Irish Olympic sports hostage, the Notre Dame administration might bolt for an opportunity more historically aligned with the program like the Big 10.
Another scenario exists in which the ACC is pilfered by other conferences looking to strengthen their position. If Miami (FL), Clemson, North Carolina, and Florida State depart for other conferences, the prestige of the group diminishes significantly. At that point, would the ACC continue as a lower-tier conference or cease to exist? If they continue as a lower-tier conference, would Notre Dame continue with its agreement?
There are hundreds of scenarios and ‘what ifs.’ The Notre Dame football team will likely win (and lose) before a definitive decision is made. Another significant shift must happen before the future becomes clear.