ND is still in a position of strength and can be patient
At this point every conference still wants ND more than it needs to join a conference. Further, we know that ND will still be playing USC every year (something USC insisted on as a condition of entry).
The potential deal breaker is if the ACC gets raided and is no longer a viable partner. At that point, ND may need to jump to the Big N to keep a viable football schedule and have a viable home for Olympic sports, but we aren't there yet. Lot's of rumblings about Clemson and FSU going to the SEC, but it is pretty well known that USC (South Carolina) and UF don't want that to happen since it would diminish their standing as the only SEC schools in those states. Also, unlike adding Texas and OU, adding Clemson and FSU just further divvies up the TV deal pie, without adding any new markets.
The super conferences are happening...and eventually there will likely be a Power 4 (instead of the current Power 5), but it will likely be a slow process and the ACC is in better position to withstand the inevitable reshuffling than the Big 12 or Pac 12.
Replies to: ND is still in a position of strength and can be patient
Only for 2 years max until CFP agreement ends
Thereafter, B1G and SEC will play a championship game and the winner will be crowned champs by all. Our scheduling will become problematic as well.
The addition of out main rival which also broadens reach of conference beyond region is a big improvement for us to join over previous situaion.
That makes no sense
Any playoff expansion, which I oppose, will benefit ND due our lack of a conf championship game.
Oh, and Fr Jenkins sits on the CFP Board of Managers.
You don't understand. There will be no playoff (unless it is within the superconferences)....
The CFP ends in 2025. Now, the 2 big conferences will simply schedule a game between themselves for the championship game. They may play some form of playoff within their conferences before that, but they will have no resaon to include the lesser conferences.
Playoff expansion is now on hold.
Now you're being silly
(no message)
Come again?!?
Based on the previous reporting regarding playoff expansion, ND not being in a conference would relegate it to being no better than the 5-seed in every playoff, regardless of record, meaning it would need 4 wins to be champion. Yes, there may be greater access to the playoff via more teams, but telling your players, hey, we value our independence so much, we are going to force you to win an extra game in the playoff regardless of how well you played in the regular season sure sounds like a shitty deal to me.
At best, playoff expansion is a mixed bag for ND. Considering the rest of college football has abandoned tradition, I would prefer ND do the same, stop being stubborn and join a conference to gain the possibility of those bye weeks. With USC now in the Big Ten, it seems like a no-brainer at this point.
Maybe 3 conferences, but the soon to be Pac10 or less and whatever is left of the Big 12 has no
power. Those conferences will be somewhere between the Power 5 and Group of 5.
Even with USC, ND is going to have a tough time putting together a schedule that means anything. The Big 10 and SEC want more conference games which means less chance of quality matchups with those schools. Why go play ND for a pittance of TV revenue when you can play in conference and get many more dollars.
We can’t be left behind!
We hear this same crap with every conference move.
Stupid then, stupid now.
Agreed, but...
I think this is the beginning of something bigger than mere conference realignment. I do wonder how much life the NCAA has left in it. Getting in on the ground floor of a major restructuring is different than panicking about mere conference realignment.