Notre Dame Headed to the ACC?

Notre Dame has confirmed talks with the ACC about entry into the league's anchor bowl game in college football's quickly transitioning postseason landscape, reports Matt Hinton of CBS Sports.

ACC commissioner John Swofford hinted to ESPN.com last week that Notre Dame "could be involved in the mix" of Orange Bowl partners once the league and bowl hammered out the details on their 12-year agreement.

If the Fighting Irish were to ever relocate, the ACC—along with the Big 12—is thought to be considered the likely landing spot. However, commissioner Swofford has been very adament when demanding that the school would have to join as an all-sports member.

A deal between the two could benefit Notre Dame in many ways, especially with the current direction of the college football postseason: Given the contractual tie-ins of the Big Ten and Pac-12 and SEC and Big 12 and ACC, there's the possibility that it could only be eligible for three at-large BCS berths annually available among the six bowls.

Assuming that the Irish don't reach the 4-team playoff year-in and out (they need to win 10 games first), they need something to fall back on.

Notre Dame would need to meet a certain standard to reach the Orange Bowl too, of course, but I'm sure the ACC will not hesitate to put it on board with its outstanding TV ratings.

So the burning question is: Where do the Irish fit in this evolving college football postseason? We'll find out in the next coming weeks.


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