How To Get Notre Dame Football in the Big East

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

—Offer to let Notre Dame have an equal share of any Big East TV deal the Big East can broker with all the other football schools as well—this on top of the NBC money they already get.


—In terms of Bowl Money Payout, Notre Dame gets the same share due any other Big East team based on actual performance finish on the field, despite bumping an actual second-place Big East finisher from the conference's second-place bowl.

For example, in a year that Notre Dame uses its clause to bump another team from the Gator Bowl, Notre Dame will receive the payout from the Big East's pool of Bowl Money based on where they finish in conference standing. If Notre Dame finishes in fifth place in conference standings, but uses its option to play in the Gator, they will still only be paid according to what the fifth place finisher would be paid.


—Probably the real issue for Notre Dame is being able to get back to being a top 10 program nationally in terms of competitiveness.

The Big East lineup has some pretty solid teams, but it will never be akin to playing a schedule like one might face in the SEC. Notre Dame could come in and every year have a legitimate shot to win the conference based on talent alone, thus participating in a BCS Bowl every year if it gets it done on the field, no matter how high or low it is ranked.

Theoretically, Notre Dame could go 7-5 on the season and still win the Big East and participate in a BCS bowl. A 7-5 Notre Dame team will never bump any BCS at-large teams operating as an independent.

Also, Notre Dame—for all its history—has never won a conference championship. Had Notre Dame been playing in the Big East while Ty Willingham was at the helm, maybe they win a conference championship or two, get to a BCS bowl, and are able to build on that and jump right back in the national title race in a year or two. But that never happened and it will never happen as long as Notre Dame is an independent... at least not according to the conference championship format.


—Finally, Notre Dame will not be required to play any weeknight games. They value playing 12 games on 12 Saturdays and they would be able to just say no to participating on weeknights and the Big East really couldn't ever tell them no.


WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE BIG EAST?

None of those concessions will hurt the Big East football schools financially and it is easy to see why. Also, it would put an end to any speculation of a split between the Big East football schools and the Big East basketball schools.

Notre Dame actually loves the fact that there are 15 other markets to show their wares in front of during basketball season, and they would never go against the other seven Catholic institutions that participate in Big East athletics.

—First off, the Big East will get a whole heck of a lot better TV deal than what it currently has (meaning way more money for each current Big East football school even though it will be split nine ways as opposed to eight) because they can offer ESPN/ABC or CBS four guaranteed Notre Dame games every year when Notre Dame plays a Big Eas

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?