As a reputable academic institution they definitely align better with the Big-10 or ACC rather than the Big-12. Athletically though, they'd be able to easily dominate the Big-12, especially in football. They'd get to play cupcakes week in and week out all season, effortlessly win the conference, and mitigate any future CFP snubs.

Here is my fantasy.

ND decides to join the ACC, gets told to pound sand. Then goes to the BIG10, gets told to pound sand. SEC, BIG12 etc all say thanks but no thanks.

Then everyone above decides its not in their best interest to schedule ND.

I know know. But wouldn't it be fun?

Yes, Notre Dame is a natural for THE TWELVE. I'd also try to pluck Clemson from the ACC at the same time.

ND's strategy is to play 1-2 tougher games and then stack their schedule games they should win going away. It allows them to puff out their chest and say "see hoe good we are, look at our win loss record", point to over inflated stats for playing teams at .500 or less. The big xii would be perfect- although I would say the acc is perfect also.

At any rate, the won't join any conference. They will agree to play a few games in football (five currently in the acc) but will remain independent so they can stack their schedule with even more crappy teams. They will use the conference to stack their non-football sports (with exception of ice hockey, which will reman with the B1G). They will smile and give each team $1M, but will not share their NBC revenue with their conference affiliate.

ND currently receives about $20M per year from the acc (vs $45M for the full members) retains all of their NBC tv revenue and 100% of any bowl/CFP revenue.
In my opinion, there is no real advantage for a conference to do this hybrid model- except to ND of course.
- nd gets a check for showing up
- unless you are not already selling out your stadium every game, there is no financial gain
- I guess you can charge your loyal boosters more money for the privilege of watching nd play
- you become nd's event planner for all sports not football

ND is not going to want to share TV revenue for football with any conference, and I hope they don't come to the Big 12 because we finally got to say good riddance to the other prima donnas in the league. We don't need another one. I am not a fan of the current Big 12. At all. This would make it worse.

Skubalon said:

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ND is not going to want to share TV revenue for football with any conference, and I hope they don't come to the Big 12 because we finally got to say good riddance to the other prima donnas in the league. We don't need another one. I am not a fan of the current Big 12. At all. This would make it worse.

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It has to be nice to be in a conference without the preferential treatment Texas, Alabama, Georgia (as of late) get....and agreed, Notre Dame fits into that category as well.

Elmer Dobkins said:

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As a reputable academic institution they definitely align better with the Big-10 or ACC rather than the Big-12. Athletically though, they'd be able to easily dominate the Big-12, especially in football. They'd get to play cupcakes week in and week out all season, effortlessly win the conference, and mitigate any future CFP snubs.

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No offense, but the OLD Big 12 would not have been a good fit for ND. The NEW Big 12 added 4 AAU member schools so is probably a good fit. Secondly, 5 Big 12 schools are ranked at end of season. Additionally, the wide variety of sports has to be a draw: strong wrestling, basketball, gymnastics, skiing, lacrosse, beach and regular volleyball plus baseball. And warm weather venues to escape the dreary northern Indiana winters, of course: desert, ocean, big mountains: what's NOT to like about Big 12 country?

I agree the old big xii was not a good fit. ND is not joining the big xii for football- they've said they are not joining-and they won't join any conference and give up their independence. They get $50M a year from NBC and an additional $25M from the acc. They don't need to be in a conference for anything other than non- football sports.

As long as the ncaa allows them to play by a different set of rules anf the P4 idiots continue to play them, nothing will ever change. There is really no value to have an affiliation with nd- except to nd of course.