Posted Wednesday May 09, 2012, About: Might a new Big 12 include Seminoles and Irish?

Every B10 fan (including me) knows that there is an open invitation for ND. There has been since 1999.

The B10 did not "have a conversion" with NE until they got a call from NE and the whole thing was done in a couple of days.

If ND calls them up to join 100%, the B10 will not say no. The same quick turnaround would occur.

The BE, ACC and B12 would also immediately add them if asked to do so.

The P12 and SEC, maybe, would have to think about it.

ND football guarantees an big increase in a league's TV deals for each league member. GUARANTEES IT.

Money-wise, adding ND is like adding a 2nd Michigan to the B10 or a 2nd Texas to the B12.

They bring in more money into the league than they take from the league, no matter who the other school is that a league adds to get to an even number.

Most leagues are not going to turn down those $$$$$.

MAYBE is a league is already at 16, they would not want to add more. However, no one is going to go to 16 until they see where ND goes. That's why the ACC stopped at 14.

Posted Wednesday May 09, 2012, About: Might a new Big 12 include Seminoles and Irish?

No, the suitors for the ND brand are still esstially the same: EVERY BCS CONFERENCE.

Now, I'm arguing that only the B10 and ACC have realistic shots, but every league wants them.

I do agree that ND only joins a conference when they see themselves to be at a structural disadvantage in getting to the playoffs.

Posted Wednesday May 09, 2012, About: Might a new Big 12 include Seminoles and Irish?

One Irish fan does not equal the school administrators. Do your own homework. Go look at their past activities.

The Big 10 and ND get along just fine. ND plays 3 Big 10 teams every year. Clearly, there are no hard feeling or that wouldn't happen. These guys "talk" at all the BCS meetings.

If ND "disliked" the B10 so much they would not have even had those discussions in 1999. It was friendly through and through. Big 10 made an offer, and ND looked at it. Their faculty wanted on board, their fanbase did not. The administration decided to keep their own money and say no. No big deal.

Big East is out of the question now that it is so diluted. The ACC and B10 are the leagues that would best keep ND tied to Chicago and/or the NE. Fans may pretend that doesn't matter, but it most assuredly does to ND brass.

I just don't see ND giving up millions of dollars a year and going with the Big 12. I see the same concerning the ACC, but at least there is some other benefit there.

Posted Tuesday May 08, 2012, About: Might a new Big 12 include Seminoles and Irish?

The Irish? FSU and Clemson are crazy enough, but does EVERY reporter have to act like EVERY BCS league has a shot to land Notre Dame?

Let's come back to reality. If they wanted to join a conference, it would be the Big Ten hands down over the Big 12.

They would make a lot more money there and keep their strong ties to traditional rivals and the city of Chicago.

Adn only the Big Ten at least has a shot of expanding into the Northeast ND also wants to stay tied to. The Big 12 has no shot for that. And the Big Ten has bigger alumni presence in NYC than does the the Big 12.

At least the ACC would give them the Northeast presence. They would lose Chicago and, again, give up a lot more money.