It would cost nothing only if you exclude its heritage, tradition, brand and identity.

It would mean tossing aside 128 years of a football program that made its name and its place in college football by itself, as an independent, on its own.

Former independents Penn State and Miami (for instance) became lesser national programs (in my view) when they gave up independence and joined their respective conferences.

Their national appeal and identity took a hit and they each became just one more fairly anonymous conference member.

Regarding basketball, I much more enjoyed the days of ND basketball being an independent in the Seventies and Eighties under Digger Phelps, playing teams like UCLA, DePaul and Kentucky.

My interest in ND basketball waned after it joined the Big East in 1995. I still follow it, but with much less zeal.

My position is if you are going to be just like everyone else, why bother?

Why be just like everyone else if you don't absolutely have to do so?