Just sayin': Nevadabuck (and his anonymous "insider source") are both probably full of shit; but here is the article anyway:
Despite valuing their independent status, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame might have to adjust if they don't want to be left behind.
www.essentiallysports.com
Insider Confirms Marcus Freeman & Notre Dame’s Move to Power 5 Conference With Reliable Reports
Notably, this comes a month after Marcus Freeman had ambitiously noted all the positives behind their independent status.
“I view it as a pro and we’ll continue to look at it that way unless something changes…“We get to play coast to coast. You play multiple different teams from multiple different conferences. You started off the season in College Station. You ended the season in LA, and we’re in New York twice. So, we get to really view our program as global in terms of a national program, in terms of how we play, and the audience we play in front of. Now, it’s not much different than the Big Ten now, with UCLA and USC and some of the West Coast teams being in it.” But why exactly is Freeman’s team even considering such a move?
On February 25, during an episode of the Ohio State Football at Buckeye Scoop podcast, Buckeye Scoop’s co-owner and founder, Nevadabuck revealed,
“I’ve had a great source involved in Big 10 expansion that gave us the heads up on USC, UCLA…gave us the heads up on Oregon, Washington…If you’ve been a person who’s listened to the show religiously, you know how far in advance we had this over other people. Now he’s telling me Notre Dame to the Big 10!”
Notably, this comes a month after Marcus Freeman had ambitiously noted all the positives behind their independent status. “I view it as a pro and we’ll continue to look at it that way unless something changes…“We get to play coast to coast. You play multiple different teams from multiple different conferences. You started off the season in College Station. You ended the season in LA, and we’re in New York twice. So, we get to really view our program as global in terms of a national program, in terms of how we play, and the audience we play in front of. Now, it’s not much different than the Big Ten now, with UCLA and USC and some of the West Coast teams being in it.” But why exactly is Freeman’s team even considering such a move?
Well, as per Nevadabuck, “
There’s two driving factors for this right now: One is the 2026 playoff reformat of which the Big Ten and the SEC control. And two, is the offer of private equity money that’s coming to forming of these new media rights entities that are going forward as well.” The proposed 14-team playoff format (4-4-2-2-1+1) would give four automatic spots for the Big Ten and the SEC, two spots for the Big 12 and the ACC, one for the Group of Six, and an at-large bid for ND if they finish with a high ranking, no chance for a first-round bye.
“
Notre Dame is being left with a binary choice,” the source added. “
Their choice is really simple—join the Big Ten or be frozen out of the college football playoff because the only reason they’re in it right now is because politically they don’t want to completely isolate the independence.” But the message is clear. It’s time for ND to join a conference or be left behind. The insider is aware, “
Notre Dame, I know they prize their independence. I know that’s part of their identity. I know they love their NBC deal,” but here’s the bottom line—“
Notre Dame will be joining the Big Ten and I’ve got that from the most impeccable source.”
How the discussion for the 2025 playoff format went
While negotiations continue, the writing is on the wall. On Tuesday, representatives from CFB’s 10 Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame met for over seven hours in Dallas to discuss the 2025 playoff format. But they failed to reach an agreement. B1G commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey remained tight-lipped, but their silence speaks volumes.
“
I think it’s too early,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark stated. “
The CFP’s going to run some models and then come back to us next month.” But any changes for 2025 require unanimous approval from 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s AD Pete Bevacqua. But with billions of dollars at stake and the consolidating college football’s power structure, the Fighting Irish’s independence may no longer be sustainable.
The Big Ten is playing hardball, and if the insider’s sources are correct, Marcus Freeman and his team will soon find themselves in a conference for the first time in the program’s history. The countdown to realignment is on — Notre Dame to the Big Ten is no longer a possibility. It’s an inevitability.
amp.awfulannouncing.com
