Should Notre Dame Join a Conference?

[Bash Riprock]

14 minutes ago, Alduflux said:

Let me rephrase my thoughts.  All that really matters is money.  Does adding ND to a conference increase or decrease the average payout to that conference's members?  The answer to that question for the last 100 years has always been yes.  So long as that remains true, and it likely will, ND has an open invitation to every conference.

Of course the ACC lobbied for one of their own members over a non-football member.  They (ACC) literally make more money with Miami in the playoff over ND.

Your right about ND and the TV deal.  Joining the B1G/SEC would mean joining the media rights of each conference.  The NBC deal would go away in the long term, although there could be a transition period where ND was a partial member and maintained the NBC deal until a certain date in the contract.  The B1G made similar concessions regarding membership when USC/UCLA joined vs OREGON/Washington in the form of full shares (Usc/ucla) vs partial shares (oregon/wash).

Ultimately you are right...cash is king.  It will be interesting who truly has the leverage when it comes to future negotiations.  As you stated, the deal for the latest members wasn't as lucrative as for the legacy members....as least initially.  Not sure what that would mean for possible future members.  Guess we shall see.

[Komets2727]

1 hour ago, Bash Riprock said:

I am not so sure I agree with much of your sentiment.  This feels like the "old way of ND thinking" and not sure that view is going to fly much longer in the future. I believe patience is wearing thin by many.

The ACC bailed quickly on ND when it came to advocating with conference teams for the CFB.  That is knowing that ND has the 5 game agreement with them for football and other major sports (except hockey) are in their conference.  Yet this still didn't matter...they turned their back on ND without hesitation.

I'm not so sure the SEC or Big 10 is "chomping at the bit" to admit ND to their conferences.  In the past, I do think the Big 10 really wanted them to join.  But that was prior to adding more schools.  They have not forgotten ND spurning their offer and will never agree to ND having their own major network TV contract.  ND in the SEC is not really a fit...not sure they want a "Yankee" school in their conference and an "uppity school" in their eyes.  They already have Vandy.  They will also never agree to ND having their own TV deal.

The best fit for ND by far is the Big 10, and I think there will need to be some fences mended on the part of ND with some of the schools that have influence.  From the past spurn of joining the conference to dropping some of the schools from ND schedule in recent years.  I believe the Big 10 will believe "they hold the cards" when it comes to future negotiating.  

ND was left out on an island during this year's CFB selections...no one advocated for them and why should a P4 conference do so, when their responsibilities comes first to their conference members.  ND is now the ONLY major football power that is independent....I believe their scheduling will get more difficult with P4 teams.  Making friends is pretty darn important.

I do agree that the landscape will change more, and there is something to possibly waiting....just not sure the Irish have all the time they wish to make that call.

Great post and it sums up exactly the way it is for Notre Dame going forward. They can continue to live in the past as they have been doing forever, or they can become adaptable to what the landscape of college football is TODAY and move forward. 9 conference games in the Big 10 which includes their rivalry game with USC, play Navy every year as they have for 70 years as one of their non-conference games, and 2 other non-conference games as well. They have that needed conference affiliation so they don’t get shut out of the CFP and they can really grow their rivalry base with Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, and Penn State. 

[PHJIrish]

Let's not forget that the ACC's  winner of their "championship" game was Duke.  The Blue Devils were the actual ACC champion.  So, Notre Dame wasn't the only team that the ACC passed on.  I guess picking and choosing is still happening.  And I believe Duke was the equal of James Madison and Tulane.  But some say rules are rules, except, well you know.