Since this thread had much discussion about the possibility of ND football joining the ACC, and to provide some objective evidence of ND fans' stance/opinions on that subject, here is a survey question answered by 1,500 Notre Dame fans who subscribe to The Athletic:


"Did Notre Dame playing in the ACC last season make you feel more positively about the idea of the football program joining a conference?

Yes: 29.2 percent

No: 70.8 percent

It’s hard to look at Notre Dame’s single season in the ACC and not think it was a success. The Irish did in one season what Michigan has never managed, appearing in a conference championship game. Notre Dame got a marquee home night game against Clemson that turned into an iconic moment.

It all ended with a blowout loss to Clemson in the rematch for the conference title in Charlotte, but the ACC treated the Irish well in terms of scheduling and COVID-19 accommodations, scrapping a rescheduled game at Wake Forest to give the Irish an idle week before the ACC championship game in the sake of fairness because Clemson also had one.

Maybe there is a way to move the needle on ACC full membership with fans if USC was a guaranteed nonconference opponent, with a chance to rotate marquee opponents like Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Alabama, etc.

But for now, even after last season’s run to the College Football Playoff, Notre Dame is unchanged on the prospect of conference membership. They’ll pass."







[Post edited by TerryD at 05/28/2021 11:08PM]