yorost wrote:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/19/sports/ncaafootball/nbc-and-notre-dame-extend-television-deal.html
Not particularly relevant at this point, but I suppose it is still related. Fox stealing Notre Dame football from NBC in 2015 could have been a slight reopening of the door for Notre Dame to join us. ...and slight might be a stretch.
Actually it might actually increase the chance. ND bizarrely makes more money with NBC that it does in just about any bowel game outside of the BCS/ Champ playoff bowels. ND being ND really doesn't need a tie in, any bowel that gets a chance to put ND football on the field will jump at the chance and ND fans will watch it regardless.
If ND competes at a high level... it avoids the need of conference affiliation altogether. Since ND has now got a steady revenue stream till 2025, it can jump... especially if the ACC falters. (I still don't see it being highly likely but it remains possible)