in would basically seal the deal on the NY and Boston as well as all the other North East TV markets. I can't tell you how many Catholic fans root for ND and don't even know where ND is.

I really don't know what ND financial stake with NBC is but have to assume that any financial deal would make as much, close to, and likely more money for all 16 teams. I personally think that either an 8 or 9 conference game schedule gives ND as well as all other ACC teams enough flexibility. For ND that might = Navy, Stanford/USC, and a BIG or other opponent as they see fit.
Pure Speculation here
If the P65 goes into an OOC rotation during the season modeled somewhat like the NFL, ND would be force into a conference. That model would work something like the ACC vs BIG challenge whereby every school gets 2 home and 2 away OOC games in a given year and then the following year is a different conference. Hurts rivalry games like Clemson - USCe though