The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are entering a new era.
Brian Kelly has moved on to LSU after 12 seasons with the Irish.
Filling the head coaching role is Marcus Freeman. A defensive coordinator under Kelly, Freeman looks to lead the Irish to another successful season.
That season starts in Ohio Stadium against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
While all eyes would usually be focused on the beginning of the new era in South Bend, a looming resolution sits on the horizon for the Irish and the rest of college football. The future of college football may truly hinge on a decision by Notre Dame.
Why the B1G?
Geographically, the move to the Big 10 Conference makes sense for Notre Dame.
The Irish have long-standing rivalries with USC, Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue.
Notre Dame can compete in the Big 10. The Big 10 conference needs additional competition with Ohio State and Michigan. Notre Dame, under Freeman, would have an opportunity to make a run at the B1G title game on a regular basis.
The B1G football television deal is worth upwards of $1 billion dollars. Notre Dame has a current deal with NBC that lasts through 2025. A deal of that magnitude would be hard to pass up.
Why the ACC?
Notre Dame is an ACC school in all major sports but football and hockey. Notre Dame played a full ACC schedule during the 2020 season due to Covid-19. Notre Dame typically plays five games against ACC opponents per season.
The ACC, from top to bottom, is a weaker conference than the Big 10 and the Irish would have a great opportunity to make the College Football Playoff on a regular basis in the ACC.
If Notre Dame decides to join the B1G, the ACC could easily be destroyed by the incoming behemoth conferences. The Irish have enough popularity and pull nationally to keep the ACC afloat.
Why the SEC?
Moving to the SEC seems to be the most far-fetched scenario for the Irish. The SEC is the most competitive conference in college football.
Notre Dame would likely have huge national exposure in the SEC. The SEC also joined ESPN for a $3 billion dollar television deal starting in 2024. The Irish would have a large opportunity to get a piece of the SEC pie but would miss out on opportunities in the B1G or ACC.
The Irish would ultimately need to take a gigantic leap of faith to join the SEC. The SEC is the most competitive conference and the Irish have struggled against top-level talent.
Joining the SEC seems like a long shot, but crazier things have happened in college football.
Staying Independent?
The Irish are hitched to a pair of television contracts with NBC until 2025. The deal with NBC draws approximately $15 million per year. Having nationally televised games on NBC weekly is a major draw for fans, as well as recruits.
Notre Dame, by remaining independent, allows for more flexibility when scheduling opponents. By joining either the ACC, B1G, or even the SEC, the Irish would find themselves in a tough position to make the College Football Playoffs without expansion.
Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde, writes that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish may still remain independent. A source familiar with the school’s thinking told Sports Illustrated that “independence remains the preference and the leader in the clubhouse.” It will take a lot to move Notre Dame off its cherished identity, but the instability of the entire landscape remains a concern, and could further affect the Irish outlook.
Prediction
The last days of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish being a national independent are here.
The landscape of college football is changing with NIL deals and conference realignment. If the Irish want to be able to keep pace, they will need to make a move soon.
Notre Dame holds the keys to a major shift in college football. Joining the SEC or B1G will continue an unstoppable wave of condensing and shifting into these conferences. Some schools may even have to eliminate football entirely due to a lack of funds.
Staying in the midwest is a key contributing factor to continued success in recruiting. The Irish currently have the #1 ranked recruiting class for the 2023 season. By joining the B1G the Irish maintain national exposure and continue to build on, what seems like, great recruiting by head coach Marcus Freeman
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be moving to the B1G starting in 2024. The Irish maintain their rivalries with USC, Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue. The roughly $1 billion annual television deal would not hurt either.
1 Comment
Nailed it