Will Notre Dame Ever Join a Conference?
Via Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Notre Dame, Indiana (PSF) - College Football is an ever changing landscape with the current state it’s in. Between NIL, the transfer portal, and conference realignment we are entering a completely new era of CFB. We’re seeing storied programs leave their conferences they have been in for decades to join these so-called ‘super conferences’. Programs like Texas and Oklahoma for the SEC and USC, UCLA for the Big Ten. In fact, around 10 percent of the FBS is making a move to their new conference in 2023 with no sign of it stopping anytime soon. A lot of these programs see joining these conferences as the only way to maintain relevance and cash in on big money. One of the lone college football powerhouses to who has not bought into this mindset however is none other than the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Via The Heisman
Notre Dame is one of the most storied programs in all of college football and would be a huge addition to any conference that they would choose to join. The two options that make the most sense would be the ACC, as all other athletic programs except football and ice hockey are already a part of the conference, and the Big Ten. There were talks of the Irish joining the powerhouse conference for several years but never quite came to fruition, however with the realignment conferences perhaps maybe they would reopen the conversation. Does one of the most historic and storied programs finally stray away from its independence to join a super conference. According to their AD, Jack Swarbrick, it seems like the answer is slim to none, at least in terms of the near distant future. Swarbrick feels as though that the Irish are right where they are supposed to be and doesn’t see conference realignment being of great threat to them.
Via The Athletic
In an interview with On3 Sports, Swarbrick stated that "There have been times when people thought giving [Notre Dame's independence] up was inevitable ..... I don't get that sense right now." This feeling can be chalked up to a variety of factors despite media speculation indicating that Notre Dame will be forced too because of the changes in College Football. One of those factors was its substantial contract with NBC to broadcast its home games as well as its obvious direct access and the respect it is given by the College Football Playoff committee. Despite being an independent and every game being a non-conference opponent, Notre Dame is able to play solid and above average opponents week in and week out. They also have a lot of tradition and rivalries against teams across America that would not otherwise be possible if Notre Dame would join the Big Ten or ACC. Next year's schedule will be a whirlwind for the Irish as it features Ohio State, USC, Clemson, and Stanford. Even with times like this they are still missing on key rivalry games we see every few years with teams like Michigan, Miami, and Penn State. With all the changes going on in the game of CFB, Notre Dame will be a program who will be maintaining their programs tradition for the foreseeable future.