The more time passes, the less likely it appears the proposed College Football Playoff revamp will push Notre Dame toward a conference. After initial speculation that ACC membership was coming, more recent talk indicates that the Irish will keep their independence. Among the latest to join that chorus is Roy Philpott of ESPN. Appearing on the podcast “Gramlich and Mac Lain”, Philpott expressed confidence that the Irish do not wish to join the ACC for football:
Does @RoyPhilpott think @NDFootball is going to join the #ACC??? 👂👇https://t.co/q2ix0pB11A pic.twitter.com/rgHXrxLBA3
— Eric Mac Lain (@EricMacLain) June 18, 2021
At first glance, it’s still crazy to think the Irish willingly would give up the opportunity to ever have a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. However, further study of the situation shows that they might not have been so tone-deaf in their approach to this after all. It’s become more obvious that 2020 was an anomaly and not a precursor. Normalcy is making its way back, and that includes an independent Notre Dame.