can display in the media "independence" but in reality, if there is a required number of football games to be played, they are not in fact; independent. It's a semantics type thing to make ND feel good about hanging on to the past with the whole independent thing.
I get it, but at the same time, the world has changed. When you don't change with the world, you end up like Blockbuster -- dead.
So, assuming the 5 bye's in front of an ND game is intentional by the league, then it's definitely a message or a first shot across the bow.
There are 3 choices for ND.. leave, join or quit whining. Since we've effectively already joined (playing required # of games) you might as well just play one more and quit claiming something that's not 100% true... and that is "independence".
Also, the one thing ND had that the ACC needed or wanted, is no longer so... a TV deal. I've been seeing commercials where they too now have a network. So, if it's not an NBC network, ND no longer provides much of a trade value to the league other than brand.
Link: https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/state-now/article149960542.html