Why Notre Dame should join the Big East in football

by B.D.Bronco on May 26, 2025 12:24 AM EDT

As a private Catholic institution with a storied past, Notre Dame has a huge nationwide fanbase. As an independent athletic program, Notre Dame can schedule games all over the country to reach that vast nationwide fanbase. But if, and when, the Irish ever decide to join a conference then their market reach will be determined by whatever regional boundries that conference lies within.

The two oft mentioned conferences that Notre Dame could join, Big12 and ACC, will severely limit the available market reach of Notre Dame to mostly the East Coast, or the southern Midwest and Southeast areas of the country. Yes, their fans on the west coast can still watch games on TV, most will never be able to actually attend games regularly.

But there is one conference that would give Notre Dame the greatest possible market exposure. That conference is the Big East. The Big East will allow Notre Dame to play in Florida, California, the Pacific Northwest, Texas, New England, the Midwest, and the South. The Big East will give Notre Dame the greatest market reach. It would also ensure that the Big East would get a massive media deal. Everyone wants Notre Dame.

That is why if Notre Dame should ever decide to leave football independence, it should be for the Big East Conference.

** I know this is an utter pipe dream, but hey I can still dream. **

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Notre Dame joining the Big East may be unlikely, but there is logic to your statement. Any team wanting national exposure should look at the Big East.
It was one of the advantages stated by SMU. That exposure should appeal to several schools, particularly BYU, AF, and Navy.

by since1670 on May 26, 2025 9:15 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Notre Dame

may ultimately need to affiliate its football program with a conference. I’ve argued time and again for the Big East. Truth is, its not happening now … and when it does happen the landscape may be much different.

Follow @29sonski

by 29sonski on May 26, 2025 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

Here's a Notre Dame article you should read

from the Chicago Tribune.

Follow @29sonski

by 29sonski on May 27, 2025 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

Notre Dame is too proud to join a conference in football

I suspect they will end up going down with the ship before they go anywhere for football. They could be totally irrelevant, all their historical capital spent (like the Ivy League and Service Academies), their TV contract long gone, and they still would refuse to join a conference in football.

Okay, somebody in the Big East has made this necessary. "BC" in my nickname references the icon. I AM NOT A BOSTON COLLEGE FAN.

by VoiceOfBC on Jun 2, 2025 3:30 PM EDT reply actions