With conference expansion and realignment continuing to be a significant topic of conversation throughout the 2022 season, there is one question that continues to rise to the top of that conversation. If Notre Dame joins a conference which one will they join? ESPN’s Paul Finebaum had recently made his thoughts on the subject known when he talked to colleague Greg McElroy on the July 20th episode of “Always College Football.”
Finebaum says,
“Notre Dame is a little more difficult to predict because they just don’t think the same way we do. I think the SEC is the perfect landing spot for them but there’s so much history up there, there’s the turn of the nose at toward the academics at several of the schools down here. The Big Ten is a better marriage if they went somewhere.”
I agree with Finebaum that the Big Ten is a better marriage for the Fighting Irish. As further discussed in that episode is the fact that Notre Dame is looking for $75 million in their next media deal. Will the Irish be able to secure that amount of money with five annual ACC games currently part of their scheduling? Finebaum doesn’t think so,
“They can’t get that in the ACC. I’m sure I’ve popped off about the ACC in the past but the ACC is in trouble because of the (television) deal… they signed that deal and they’re dealing with powerful companies like ESPN and Fox and others. They’re as good as their product too and it’s good football don’t misunderstand me but outside of a handful of those schools you’re not going to get eyeballs over there.”
Finebaum’s analysis is spot on. The remaining questions are “how quickly does Notre Dame want to decide on their future” and “how soon do the Big Ten and SEC want to make further moves on expansion?” Honestly, neither question can be answered until Notre Dame fields offers as an independent to see what the open market will bring to the table. Until they see if their price can be met, nothing can happen.
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