Which conference will Notre Dame football join?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
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<p>This is definitely an interesting topic. The Big East is about to collapse with the recent defections of Pitt (ACC), Syracuse (ACC) and now West Virginia (Big 12). The Big 12 now has 10 programs while the Big 10 has 12! </p>

<p>Anyway, Jim Delany has been pretty adament that the Big 10 is not looking to expend. With that attitude, Notre Dame, which is in urgent need of a new conference to call home, is now seriously considering the Big 12. That does not make much sense as it has no natural rivalries with Big 12 teams, nor would it have any academic peers other than UT-Austin. Notre Dame has a long history with programs such as Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue.</p>

<p>With the ACC currently at 14 programs and with the PAC 10 aggressively pursuing more members, it would be unwise for the Big 10 to stop expending.</p>

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<p>@Alex,</p>

<p>“With the ACC currently at 14 programs and with the PAC 10 aggressively pursuing more members, it would be unwise for the Big 10 to stop expending.”</p>

<p>B1G further expansion only if it’s MORE profitable in the eyes of Delany. Although unlikely (but never say never), 12+2, the last two spots are reserved for ND and perhaps Rutgers (with New York TV revenue in mind) - although I am still skeptical on what Rutgers has to bring to the table… </p>

<p>If it were up to me, I would rather trade Rutgers with Pitt. My cousin is currently at CMU which is nearby Pitt. The word on the street according to him these days often involves the latest news of Shale Oil Rush, which certainly has gradually reviving the steel industry in Pittsburgh / Oakland area. Besides the fact that Pitt is the epicenter of this gas oil boom, it fields its football team on a nearly 80,000 stadium shared with the renown Steelers. Excellent academic institution in every way, perfect geographical location, and long rivalry with Penn State and… Notre Dame!!! Pitt, my #1 choice AFTER adding ND. Go B1G!!! lol</p>

<p>Source: <a href=“Gas Drilling Boom Brings New Life To Steel Industry : NPR”>Gas Drilling Boom Brings New Life To Steel Industry : NPR;

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<p>Sparkeye, someone should notify Delany that Notre Dame is about to sign up with the Big 12. With Texas clearly out of the running, Notre Dame is the only major program left that is unattached. He had been step on it if he wants to secure them.</p>

<p>Pitt is out since they just joined the ACC and I am no fan of Rutgers.</p>

<p>I think Chicago would be a great addition. I realize it is unlikely, but one can always dream! ;)</p>

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<p>^^“I think Chicago would be a great addition. I realize it is unlikely, but one can always dream!”</p>

<p>That makes two of us!! lol </p>

<p>On the issue of Pitt as a new member of the ACC, really, I don’t care which conference they have joined, they did so because B1G did not pick them! I feel if ND is to join B1G, they will have a saying in who they want for the 14th member, and my guess would be either BC or Pitt. If either Pitt or BC is picked as the 14th member, they will jump ship the moment they receive invitation from B1G despite having to pay millions in cost of walking away from the ACC. </p>

<p>Back to the issue of ND. I agree that Delany should not close the door on the Irish, nor will he.</p>

<p>Quote:</p>

<p>“When I think about Louisville or West Virginia or Notre Dame or BYU it’s more as a sports fan than it is as a conference commissioner,” Delany said. “Because our conference is not involved in these issues except as an observer monitoring; we talk about things from time to time. But I think it’s been pretty clear and repeated on a number of occasions about how pleased we are with where we are.</p>

<p>“There’s expansion stories all over the country but we’re not part of any of them. When we were involved, we were very direct about the fact that we were going to look at expansion. We released a statement about how we were going to do that.”</p>

<p>Delany said he has spoken recently with Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick about hockey and football scheduling, but not expansion.</p>

<p>“On the issue of expansion, no, and have not in years really,” Delany said.</p>

<p>Source: [Big</a> Ten Commissioner Jim Delany: ‘Never say never’ to expansion | TheGazette](<a href=“http://thegazette.com/2011/10/27/big-ten-commissioner-wont-never-say-never-to-expansion/]Big”>Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany: 'Never say never' to expansion | The Gazette)</p>

<p>In short, the following would be the scenario that I fear, and if I am Jack Swarbrick, I would probably do as such in the interest of ND.</p>

<p>Quote:</p>

<p>"Notre Dame could set up Texas to become independent in football.</p>

<p>That idea was broached by SB Nation’s Bill Connelly earlier this week, and thinking about it, it makes quite a bit of sense. Notre Dame would be the model for Texas to withdraw its football program from the Big 12, while leaving the rest of its programs in the conference. Given the friendship between Notre Dame and Texas athletic directors Jack Swarbrick and Deloss Dodds, it’s not too far-fetched of a theory."</p>

<p>Source: [Could</a> Notre Dame be teeing up Texas?](<a href=“NFL season expected to move to 17 games in 2021, per Schefter – NBC Sports Chicago”>NFL season expected to move to 17 games in 2021, per Schefter – NBC Sports Chicago)</p>

<p>In fact, I recall, in a desperate attempt to defy B1G’s dominance in terms of expansion talk last year, the two had teamed up and scheduled to play each other both in 2015 and 2020 with return games (4 games total).</p>

<p>Source: [Texas</a>, Notre Dame agree to four-game series - ESPN](<a href=“Corbin Burnes overcomes heat scare to fan 13 in the Brewers' 1-0 victory the Reds - ESPN”>Texas, Notre Dame agree to four-game series - ESPN)</p>

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<p>ND does not have an “urgent need” for a conference. They have their own TV contract, the biggest fan base, and the most history and tradition in college football. They will survive as an independent just fine unless they get a sweet deal.</p>

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<p>bearcats, the CCHA and the Big East are gone. Notre Dame’s basketball and hockey programs are wandering aimlessly, accepting whatever minor conference will have them. Their hockey team is now part of Hockey East, an excellent conference made up entirely of New England programs! Talk about not fitting in. This is hardly an acceptable situation. Notre Dame’s athletic program is in shambles. Just because they have a football television contract does not mean that they can afford not joining a conference. In terms of revenues and profits, Notre Dame is doing neither better, nor worse, than Michigan, OSU and PSU. Joining the Big 10 will obviously not cause Notre Dame to lose money. The need is dire, immediate and has little to do with money since Notre Dame will be as well off. It has to do with being able to remain competitive outside the confines of a major conference. The days of independents are long gone.N otre Dame has had no great year since 1993 and has only had a handful of decent (3-4 losses) seasons since then. It has been over a decade that it has been clear that Notre Dame needed to join a major conference, but the alumni are just too conceited to accept it or admit it. The faculty voted 4:1 to join the Big 10 a few years ago, as did the administration. They know all too well the harsh realities of being an independent. </p>

<p>And for the record bearcats, Notre Dame does not necessarily have the largest fan base or the most history and tradition in college football, that honor could just as easily go to your own alma matter, which you seem to disregard at every corner. Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma and USC could also make a similar claim.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure I see why the Big Ten has to expand or why ND has to join a conference.</p>

<p>Didn’t the Big East extend invites to a bunch of teams recently?</p>

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<p>I’m not a big fan of Big Ten expansion. I don’t think it is of much benefit to the current members. I would have like to have seen Notre Dame as the 12th member. Notre Dame will do what they think is best for its football program. The Big East may cease to remain viable for football but may be a viable conference for teams without football programs.</p>

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<p>Let ND stay independent in football and require all Big Ten teams to stop playing them. Let them replace Michigan, MSU and Purdue on their schedule.</p>

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<p>^^I’ve said that for a long time. I would like Michigan to drop ND off their schedule and add other schools. Next year is going to be beyond brutal for Michigan. Can you imagine road games against Alabama, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Ohio State? Also we will have a horrible home schedule. :-(</p>

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<p>I agree, I would love to see Michigan schedule games with other major programs such as Texas, Oklahoma, USC, Alabama etc…Since I have been following Michigan football (20 years exactly), Michigan has played Notre Dame 16 times and leads the series 9-6-1. I think it would be good for the program to add more variety to its schedule. Notre Dame is a good rivalry, but Michigan already has annual grudge matches against OSU and MSU. For non-conference games, we should look to expand our portfolio.</p>