Big 10 for me …
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The only thing that prevents the ACC from blowing up eventually is ND joining it full time.
If the ACC blows up, where is ND going to go?
Construct a new conference with no draw except itself?
Stay independent with a major inability to schedule anyone of consequence and high likelihood of being on the outside of any playoff system?
It will be a few years, but when/if the ACC self-destructs, ND needs to find a dancing partner.
We've recently put to bed two longstanding myths that deserved to die:
- ND is independent for the money
- ND can no longer attract top talent
Both dead! And deservedly so. Yet all along we heard the same, tired reasons for both myths, and they persisted.
This myth is no different. The same regurgitated and narrow-minded excuses are trotted out time and time again. Big Bad Conference X won't want to play poor little Notre Dame, so ND will have to join! Idiotic, short-sighted bullshit.
The idea that ND - no matter what happens with any conference or the CFP - could not put together a competitive schedule is simply ludicrous. If one is to believe this myth, they necessarily must ignore our national following, our brand, our influence, our viewership and our history. The idea that any conference or entity would willingly preclude the possibility of playing ND is not rational.
This myth will die just like the others.
As for one of your alleged myths, ND is independent for the money isn't one, at least not in the last 25 years. Not sure where you came up with that one.
One of the reasons ND linked up with ACC is due to a legitimate problem in football scheduling. ND was having major issues filling a 12 game schedule. THAT isn't a myth
The issue isn't that a being in a conference would preclude teams from playing ND as opposed to the notion that nobody would have any reason to play ND.
In the current system, playing a strong OOC team helps a team's chances in a subjective selection process. i.e., a bunch of folks get in a room and decide who gets in based on their opinion! Teams currently have a reason to play a good OOC schedule. And having ACC having ND playing 5 games certainly helps the ACC which is the main reason the ACC agreed to the "pseudo" football membership to ND.
In a super conference world, getting in a playoff would likely be more objective, i.e., you finish 1st/ 2nd/3rd in your conference after playing conference 10 games and you are in. Think of the NFL playoff process. Anyone playing OOC teams want easy warm up games because the notion of SOS would become mute. Nobody has any reason to play strong OOC teams.
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Joining a conference doesn’t do much for football. At least the Big Ten improves ND’s academic standing.
Link provided for some very basic background.
Link: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ten_Academic_Alliance
culture. Particularly wrt a “Publish or Perish” environment which can be in conflict with ND’s unique emphasis on undergraduate education.
A say “potentially” because all things are negotiable.
No one can force ND into a conference.
The BIG would like to turn ND into NW.
Not gonna happen.
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