When the Ohio State Buckeyes open the 2022 campaign with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, could they be looking at a future conference rival?
For years many college football pundits have asked the question of when the Irish would join a conference and give up their independent status in FBS. Recently the BYU Cougars made the move to go from independent to joining the Big 12 along with Cincinnati, Central Florida, and Houston. BYU left the Mountain West in 2010 and remained Independent over the next decade-plus.
During the pandemic season of 2020, Notre Dame joined the ACC for scheduling purposes and ended up playing for the ACC title. However, they play a schedule with plenty of Big Ten teams. Their annual matchup with the USC Trojans will soon be another Big Ten showdown.
Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports answered the question of joining a conference whether it would be in the ACC or Big Ten.
What Athlon Sports Says…
Have the additions of USC and UCLA improved the Big Ten’s odds of landing Notre Dame? Most likely. But was it enough? Probably not. From a financial standpoint, the Fighting Irish could certainly make more money in the Big Ten and would give the conference another powerful brand to go with Ohio State, Michigan, USC and UCLA. The overall landscape of college football is rapidly consolidating around the Big Ten and SEC. However, as long as the Fighting Irish have access to the CFB Playoff, can schedule games it wants, and aren’t limited by a Big Ten versus SEC-only postseason, then it’s hard to see this program giving up FBS Independence right now. If college football does shift to superconferences in the next few years, then Notre Dame would have no choice but to join the Big Ten, ACC or SEC. Will they or should they is question looming here. If I was in charge in South Bend, I think the financial incentive, consolidation around the Power 2 (Big Ten and SEC), and the additions of USC and UCLA would tilt me into the yes category. However, I would be surprised if the Fighting Irish gives up FBS Independence right now
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