The ACC may soon feel the wrath of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish scorned following the College Football Playoff Selection Committee's controversial decision to leave the South Bend-based program out of the 12-team field in favor of the Miami Hurricanes. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips reportedly pushed for The U to make the field so the conference wasn't left out after the 8-5 Duke Blue Devils won the conference championship.
On3's Andy Staples came up with a multiple-step plan for the Fighting Irish to seek revenge on the ACC:
"Could Notre Dame's general counsel determine the ACC’s alleged politicking for Miami gives Notre Dame legal grounds to break its agreement? Propose moving all non-football sports into the Big Ten, and secure an annual football scheduling agreement, aligning incentives with shared TV partners. Explore a football-focused scheduling partnership with the SEC so the Irish can add opponents that boost playoff résumés – and the SEC gains lucrative TV inventory featuring Notre Dame."
Alabama and Texas unlikely to schedule Notre Dame
Schools like the Vanderbilt Commodores would greatly benefit from having Notre Dame on the schedule. In fact, both schools are a good cultural fit together for a potential rivalry. Clark Lea sounds like someone anxious to battle the Fighting Irish after trying to schedule an extra game in Hawaii this past weekend.
Unfortunately, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian doesn't sound so willing to be bold after complaining about scheduling a team like the Ohio State Buckeyes following a perceived "snub" from the CFP that's only perceived that way in Austin.
And if there's another program we know won't be willing to challenge themselves with Notre Dame, it's the Alabama Crimson Tide. The most undeserving team in the CFP field is already eyeing cancelling future games against non-conference Power 4 opponents, with the SEC schedule expanding to nine games.
Some teams, like the Auburn Tigers, have already stepped up to the plate and scheduled a future home-and-home with the Fighting Irish.
We'll see how Notre Dame enjoys the Plains in 2028. Maybe that'll be one of several SEC matchups for the Irish that year, if Staples is any bit a soothsayer.