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The Big Ten Should Make A Play For Notre Dame

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So, Notre Dame is a bit peeved about the College Football Playoff committee leaving it out of this year’s dance. Ever since the initial CFP rankings, the Fighting Irish were ranked ahead of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes despite the head-to-head loss. And yet, the Hurricanes leaped over Notre Dame (and BYU) to secure a place as the 10 seed in this year’s field. The committee is consistently inconsistent, but the issue is less with the committee and more with the ACC.
The Fighting Irish are infamously Independent in football, while being in the ACC in just about every other varsity sport. Currently, Notre Dame has a scheduling agreement with the ACC. Each year, the Irish play five ACC teams in football. This year, it was six with the addition of Miami (FL). In the lead-up to the CFP, the ACC did its job and pushed for Miami (FL).
It’s not outlandish for the ACC to do that. However, Notre Dame was left out and then opted out of playing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and is, to put it professionally, throwing a fit. The Irish may be reassessing their relationship with the ACC moving forward. Could Notre Dame pull out of its scheduling agreement as well as leave the ACC in all other sports? It’s possible!
In the wake of that potential decision, the Big Ten should swoop in.

The Big Ten Should Make A Play For Notre Dame

As a result, Notre Dame felt it was slighted by a partner. There has been “permanent damage” to the relationship, according to Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua. Perhaps in a not-so-subtle jab, the ACC Network replayed the Miami (FL) win over Notre Dame on the ACC Network 13 times over the last week. In its response, the ACC asserts that while it appreciates its relationship with Notre Dame, when it comes to football, it has to look out for its 17 full-time members.

Notre Dame’s independence is a headache for college football. At the same time, it only makes financial sense for it to remain as such. It does not have to share a penny of its lucrative television with anyone. Last year’s run to the College Football Playoff National Championship, the Irish pocketed $20 million that otherwise would have been shared with conference mates. While the current media deal is not disclosed, the previous deal was $22 million per year, and the estimates put that number closer to $25 million now.

If COVID didn’t push Notre Dame into a conference, nothing will. This certainly won’t.

However, if Notre Dame is going to reassess its relationship with the ACC – both in football and across all other varsity sports – the Big Ten should pick up the phone. Strike up a deal to have Notre Dame play five or six Big Ten teams. It’s a win-win for Notre Dame and the Big Ten. At the same time, give the Irish a home in the Big Ten in all other varsity sports.
While the latter is crucial, this is a college football site, so we won’t dive too far into that idea. The Irish can be 100% independent, or they can join the Big Ten for those other sports; it matters not either way.
This isn’t to keep beating the dead horse that is “Notre Dame should join a conference.” While it’d be a happy coincidence if the Irish joined the Big Ten in football, they just won’t.

Established History

Notre Dame already has established relationships with many current Big Ten teams. Six of Notre Dame’s top 11 most-played opponents currently reside in the Big Ten:
  • USC: 93 games (51-37-5)
  • Purdue: 87 games (59-26-2)
  • Michigan State: 77 games (47-29-1)
  • Northwestern: 49 games (38-9-2)
  • Michigan: 43 games (17-25-1)
  • Indiana: 30 games (24-5-1)
Michigan was the one that taught the game to Notre Dame (and counts some of those “lessons” as wins over the Irish, but that’s a discussion for another day). The rivalry between the two is about as contentious as you’d find. Notre Dame-USC is a classic rivalry that deserves to be a yearly battle, as well.
Obviously, this is a two-way street; Big Ten teams also need to agree to play the Irish. Of course, who are Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan State, Wisconsin, or the other struggling programs to say no?
Ideally, there can be some structure, like a rotation of home-and-home series. If there are 6 teams, play home-and-home with teams 1-6. Then, 7-12. Finally, 13-18. That way, we get great matchups with Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and even Oregon. Or, Notre Dame can get its way and just schedule the bottom dwellers of the Big Ten, as it does with the ACC, to help out the win-loss record.
It just makes sense.
Main Photo: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

The post The Big Ten Should Make A Play For Notre Dame appeared first on Last Word on College Football.