Notre Dame Has ‘No Interest’ in Joining This Power Conference: Report

Now, there’s long been discussion as the ACC possibly being the next conference to see teams leave, especially with some recent reporting that there may be mutual interest between UNC and the SEC.

While we are likely years away from a major move on this front, Notre Dame remains the biggest potential fish out there, who could be drawn into a conference at some point. However, Jim Williams has been on top of much of the expansion new in recent years as a seven-time Emmy Award winning executive.

Notre Dame football has a unique relationship with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) that dates back to 2013. While the university’s athletic programs officially joined the ACC for all sports except football and hockey, the Fighting Irish football team maintained its long-standing independence.

Under the agreement, Notre Dame plays five ACC opponents each regular season on a rotating basis, allowing the program to preserve its national scheduling flexibility while gaining access to ACC bowl tie-ins. The arrangement also includes a contingency that, if the Irish ever give up independence, they would join the ACC as a full football member. This partnership was most prominently displayed in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic prompted Notre Dame to compete as a full ACC football member for one season, ultimately reaching the conference championship game before returning to independence in 2021.