The recent revelation of the proposed expanded College Football Playoff set off discussion on a variety of topics. Perhaps the most notable was the longtime debate over Notre Dame’s continued independence after the four byes in the bracket were reserved for conference champions.
ESPN personality Paul Finebaum was among those who called for the Irish to bite the bullet and join a conference permanently. Former college coach Rick Neuheisel took it a step further and speculated that Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who had a hand in constructing the expanded playoff, privately hopes this will lead to full-time ACC membership for the Irish.
However, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports has a different take. In an appearance during the first hour of Finebaum’s show Tuesday, Notre Dame inevitably came up at the 24:50 mark. Asked by Finebaum if the Irish joining a conference was a possibility, Palm said he doesn’t see it happening anytime soon. Also asked why the Irish won’t join a conference, he said that independence is part of the Irish’s culture and that it will take more than the proposed expanded playoff structure for them to give in.
Palm also mentioned the TV deal that makes the ACC the only conference Notre Dame can join through 2036 should it choose to do so. Based on the Irish’s future opponent schedule, the thought of them becoming a full-time ACC member should be perished at the moment. There are a lot of programs lining up for the opportunity to play the Irish merely because of the money and exposure it creates for them. Imagine how many more would be able to do that if the Irish weren’t locked into playing five ACC teams a year through 2037.