2020 has been an unusual year, to say the least, as Notre Dame has played in a conference and for a conference title for the first time in the program's history. Obviously the COVID-19 pandemic forced their hand and had to play in the ACC. While the ACC is not the most logical conference to play in for the Irish as geographically they are closer to Big Ten schools than ACC (the same can be said about the University of Maryland, but that's for another discussion), the school is semi-married to the conference with other sports already playing in it as well as the football program contracted to play five ACC schools a season. Also, through 2036, if the school was to join a conference, it would have to be the ACC.
With the Irish clinching a spot in the 2020 ACC Championship Game, it's time to relinquish that independent status and join the conference permanently. Notre Dame has shown that they can compete in a conference and make it to a championship game. In fact, it improves their chances at making the College Football Playoffs as it allows them to compete in more important games. Their victories over Clemson and University of North Carolina have shown that the Irish can indeed compete in a Power 5 conference and compete for the playoffs.
The independent status made Notre Dame unique for many, many years and are the number one college football brand in the country. So many great players have come through the school's program and the team has won 11 national championships including 11 unclaimed ones. What had helped the Irish in being independent was to allow them to schedule the hardest possible one every year and establish rivalries with many schools. It was a very cool and interesting way for Notre Dame to play football every year.
Then the pandemic happened. Lots of people in the fanbase totally accepted that maybe for one season it wouldn't be terrible seeing Notre Dame play in the ACC and it seemed like the school would go back to being an independent. However, it certainly seems like the tides have turned as it seems as though that school is thinking of actually joining, permanently.
Notre Dame should join the ACC. Not only will it help the Irish in their quest to make the the college football playoffs, but also raises their profile, as well as the conference's, even though they are already the number one brand in the sport as crazy as that might sound. Yes, joining the ACC could make them even more popular. Why wouldn't the school do that? Yes, tradition matters, but sometimes there are traditions which aren't as big of a deal. However, Notre Dame doesn't come close to the same revenue that schools of a Power 5 conference get. That could mean that joining the ACC means more money for the university. Money does talk.
Now, in terms of scheduling, not much will be different if Notre Dame joins the ACC. The school already has an agreement playing five ACC sides every season. Now, depending how many non-conference games are allowed to be scheduled, Notre Dame could keep rivalries with USC, Navy, Stanford, Purdue, and even Michigan while still keeping their rivalries with Boston College, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh for their conference schedule. The school joining the ACC could reignite rivalries with Miami (FL) and Florida State and even could establish new ones with such schools like Clemson and Duke. That would still make Notre Dame having a strong strength of schedule for when it comes to what is on their resume during the CFP push. What's not to like about that?
However, there is some issues here. The first and foremost is the whether the scheduling will be what it's usually like for conferences or if this year is a signal of what is to come. If the ACC is to get rid of divisions and have a 10+1 schedule every season, then it makes things more difficult for Notre Dame to have the strongest schedule they want. While it might be hard for them to not schedule USC every year because of the rivalry, the school might have to alternate other schools that Notre Dame has rivalries with each season. That could either kill those rivalries or make them less important/exciting/interesting. If this is what happens going forward, then Notre Dame will be forced to join. While it's unknown if that is going to come to fruition, there seems to be a strong sense that it might.
Another issue is the TV contract that Notre Dame has with NBC as NBC televises the majority of their games. While that deal certainly has benefitted the ACC this season, you can't blame the school for wanting all that money as that was a deal specifically meant to televise their games, not the ACC. While theoretically, Notre Dame could still get a good amount of money from joining the conference, but there would still be that problem restructuring that contract with NBC. If all sides can find a way that could work for everyone financially, then this won't be as big of an issue. Otherwise, this is a major roadblock.
Now, if Notre Dame is to join the ACC, there is going to be some questions. Despite what was mentioned earlier about the strength of schedule, the ACC still does have some programs that weakens the conference thus not allowing Notre Dame to have strongest possible schedule. Will that be a problem? Another issue will be how it affects recruiting as that will be a big unknown. Will that be a problem? And lastly, how will this affect the fan base as that could disenfranchise the so-called "traditionalists" or will it become bigger or smaller in the future. Will that be a problem? Just a lot of unknowns here.
That being said, the biggest reason this could/likely to happen would be because of money and money talks. Lots of fans will have issues with this and while their arguments are valid, money will be the number one reason for the school to join the conference. Money has changed college sports and all that tradition fans love is effectively dying. Because of that reason, it would be absolutely wise to join the ACC. Notre Dame already is semi-married to the conference with how they are contracted to play five ACC schools a season and other sports programs already in it, it just makes sense. Plus the money that comes with being a Power 5 program just makes it too hard to say no to joining. Essentially, this is inevitably going to happen.
So, with all these reasons, Notre Dame should join the ACC after this 2020 campaign. Aside from their strong season in the conference proving that it could compete in a Power 5 schedule, there is too many reasons for the school to join. It will help with their CFP ambitions, more money, and being able to keep their rivalries, plus still a strong strength of schedule. Fans will eventually come around to the idea and embrace it. Being in the ACC has a lot of advantages and fans will enjoy it. 2020 has proven that Notre Dame should join the ACC, permanently.
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