Heather Dinich: ACC still eyeing Notre Dame, but 'not opposed' to expansion to inhibit more Big 12 moves

Colorado leaving the Pac-12 to return to the Big 12 sent a shockwave through college athletics and has left several conferences considering their own futures. One of those conferences is the ACC, where there is some thought to adding teams.

College football reporter Heather Dinich explained on SportsCenter what schools the ACC would consider and why they might make a move.

“Well, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips spoke about this openly and publicly at ACC Media Days, and my colleague David Hale reported that they have actually run models on some schools like West Virginia, Washington,” Dinich said. “The point, though, is that they haven’t come up with any solutions that really provide the monetary value to significantly close the gap with the Big Ten and the SEC.”

The ACC media deal runs through the 2036 season and locks programs into the conference with a Grant of Rights deal. However, as other conferences reset the market, schools like Florida State and Clemson have grown anxious about the ACC’s financials.

“I compliment Jim Phillips and his staff for everything they’re trying to do,” Florida State Athletic Director Michael Alford said. “They understand what’s coming. I’ve made it abundantly clear that there’s a $30 million gap that’s starting next season. And that can’t go on for years, because then you just can’t catch up.”

Heather Dinich went on to explain that the ACC’s white whale remains Notre Dame. The Irish would bring enough value to potentially give the ACC a media deal in line with the SEC or Big Ten. However, Notre Dame values its independence and likely won’t join a conference.

“The reality of this situation is [the] ACC wants Notre Dame. Notre Dame wants to remain independent. And if you’re looking at the monopoly board and those blue squares out there, Notre Dame remains the most valuable property and they would like to stay solo,” Dinich said.

“So, I think, for now, that’s where the ACC is with it, in third place financially and trying to close that gap with the Big Ten and the SEC. I would also add that they’re not opposed to considering taking another program just to prevent the Big 12 from getting bigger as well. That’s a conversation that they’ve had in the ACC.”

Jim Phillips updated the state of conversations with Notre Dame

During the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips updated where the conference is on its conversations with Notre Dame, reiterating that Notre Dame values its independence.

“We’ve had a lot of conversations, let me just put it bluntly, with Notre Dame. And they’ve been very clear, they value their independence, and I think they feel strongly that will continue well into the future,” Phillips said.

“If they ever have the desire of joining the conference, they know that we would welcome them with open arms. But, I can’t speak for Jack [Swarbrick] and Pete [Bevacqua] in the future or Father John [Jenkins], but I think it’s been a healthy relationship both ways, for the ACC and for Notre Dame. Their sports, other than football, I think have thrived in the ACC. I think they really enjoy the academic prowess that the ACC brings as well, but they’ve been pretty clear about their desire to stay independent. So, I don’t see that changing any time soon.”