The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have no interest in ceding their independent status in college football and are not interested in joining the SEC or Big Ten. Notre Dame also doesn't want to give up their ACC membership for their non-football sports either.
Media consultant Jim Williams relayed the Fighting Irish's best-case scenario that'd honor both wishes.
It includes two new teams, the USF Bulls and Tulane Green Wave, becoming regular opponents in football, and potentially joining the ACC if/when the FSU Seminoles, Clemson Tigers, UNC Tar Heels, and/or Louisville Cardinals leave.
"Notre Dame has no interest in joining the (Big Ten) they will stay independent. They would like to keep their basketball and Olympic sports in the ACC IF possible. IF they are allowed to pick which teams they can play, (Boston College Golden Eagles, Stanford Cardinal, Syracuse Orange) on a regular basis if stays that would help bc they have played 73 times. (Tulane) would give the Irish a sold out Caesar Dome in New Orleans they already have USF on the schedule and could rotate two more schools. By the way last year they lost to Northern Illinois beat Miami of Ohio and played both Army and Navy so strength of schedule is not a problem since they play USC, Purdue and either Michigan or Michigan State on a regular basis they added (Clemson) who will be gone from the ACC we assume. My point is that IF ND to stay in the ACC for all sports EXCEPT Football they could find 5 games a year to stay. Does that mean they will? We will find out," Williams tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen could be considered for ACC membership, per Williams.
Both naval academies play the Fighting Irish annually. Their joining the ACC doesn't strengthen the chances of Notre Dame joining -- instead, more likely making the case that they have everything they need with their college football independence.
Last year, Williams told me the Fighting Irish could soon have an ACC invite while maintaining their NBC deal. It's unclear if Notre Dame has been extended that offer.
Even that best case scenario for the Fighting Irish in a conference pales in comparison to independence. Jerome Bettis and Joe Theismann both told me they'd like their alma mater to stay where they are.
It's hard to blame them in the slightest when you lay out Notre Dame's options.