As the readjustment of the conference shakes college football to its core, the proverbial elephant in the hall is what will make it one of the sport’s preeminent programs: independent Notre Dame.
Located in the heart of the Big Ten country, it makes sense to see the Irish as a suitable potential for the conference in case they continue to look at expansion after the USC and UCLA acquisition of the Pac-12. But if Notre Dame has its way, it won’t follow soon.
A source familiar with the school’s plans told Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde that the Irish priority is to stay independent in football. From Forde:
A source familiar with the school’s thinking told Sports Illustrated that “independence remains the preference and the leader in the clubhouse.” It will take a long time to move Notre Dame from its beloved identity, but the instability of the whole landscape remains a concern and could further affect the Irish perspective.
Two areas to control: the destinies of both the College Football Playoff and the Atlantic Coast Conference. If one or both sink, Notre Dame could be forced into the Big Ten. Under his current contract, the playoffs will cease to exist in January 2026. There is no guarantee that another iteration will take its place, in any size. “The vast majority of writing is a playoff and it’s going to get bigger,” the industry source says. “I’m not sure of that assumption.”
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If the Big Ten and the SEC separate from the rest of the sport, Forde writes, then Notre Dame could be forced to join a conference to preserve the path to a national championship. The Irish have functioned as an independent program since its inception in the late 19th century.
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