For last 20 years or so, ND has been as close to MNC as WF has. Their title searching days are *WELL* gone by unless they bring in another cheat like Holtz.

I think the bigger issue will just be getting a decent schedule together to *KEEP* their NBC contract. If other conf start playing 9+ games, they'll be more likely to not play ND. Drop a couple big names each year and their SOS drops and eventually tv drops more (more so than they already did in 2011 - lowest in 20yrs). Get rid of that sweet NBC deal and ND will pretty much be forced into a conf.

Quote Originally Posted by seekoHoG View Post
The ACC only makes sense to ND, IF the Irish have to join a conference to have access to the Title Game equal to what other top programs have. If the Conference Champion factor is a significant component of the selection committee's criteria, that might be enough to sway ND to move to a conference.
But for now, Notre Dame admin, fans and donors see conference membership benefiting the conference more than ND. Notre Dame, while not a perennial football power, is a significant brand that has a lot of value. IMO, as long as the ACC insists that all teams share equally in sports revenue, Notre Dame is not joining.
Is there any room for compromise?