The University of Notre Dame's AD, Pete Bevacqua, made a bombshell revelation on Tuesday that inspired irrational thoughts on X: the only conference commissioner he's spoken to since the Fighting Irish were left out of the College Football Playoff on Sunday has been the SEC's Greg Sankey.
Naturally, many took this as a sign Notre Dame would begin the process of exploring a move to the "It Just Means More" conference. That's probably not the case because of geography, since Chicago is two hours northwest and under 75 miles to Michigan's state line. Sankey has celebrated the SEC's geographical blueprint, saying that he thinks the additions of the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners made sense in that regard.
Of course, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri are stretches when it comes to states in the "Southeast." But those at least make more sense culturally, compared to the snowy South Bend climate.
Enough about Notre Dame to the SEC, though, because that's probably not going to happen. That aforementioned proximity to Chicago makes the Big Ten a more natural fit. The Fighting Irish pulling their non-football athletic programs from the ACC is likely after the conference pushed the Miami Hurricanes to make the CFP field over Notre Dame.
Something is definitely brewing between the SEC and the Fighting Irish, though.
Notre Dame could begin regularly scheduling SEC schools
On3's Andy Staples believes Notre Dame can "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."
He must have heard that from somewhere. If there's any truth to that idea, then the process has already begun.
Auburn is already on Notre Dame's schedule in 2027 and 2028
There will be a future home-and-home series between the Fighting Irish and the Auburn Tigers, even after the latter's conference schedule expands to nine games next year.
The first matchup will take place at Notre Dame Stadium on September 25, 2027, and the return game will happen at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 28, 2028.