For years, Notre Dame football has held one of the most unique positions in college sports. As an independent program, the Fighting Irish have enjoyed national scheduling flexibility, a lucrative TV contract with NBC, and a powerful recruiting brand that extends across the country. However, recent reports suggest that head coach Marcus Freeman and the university’s leadership are now prepared to take a significant step by moving Notre Dame into a Power 5 conference.
While this move may seem like a natural evolution for the program, an insider has revealed that it might not be purely about competition and tradition. Instead, Freeman and other key figures could be making the decision with personal gains in mind.
The Implications of Joining a Power 5 Conference
Notre Dame has long resisted the idea of joining a conference full-time for football. Despite being affiliated with the ACC in other sports, the Irish have kept their independence intact, leveraging their national brand and massive media deals to remain competitive without being tied to a league schedule.
However, if the program officially joins a Power 5 conference—most likely the Big Ten or ACC—it would mark a historic shift. Financially, the move could come with increased revenue from media rights deals, access to conference championships, and an easier path to the College Football Playoff. But according to the insider, these benefits are not the primary motivation behind Freeman and Notre Dame’s push toward realignment.
Freeman’s Motivations: A Career Move?
Marcus Freeman took over as Notre Dame’s head coach in 2022 and has steadily built the program in his vision. While his tenure has been defined by strong recruiting and defensive excellence, sources indicate that Freeman is keenly aware of how his career could be shaped by conference realignment.
By leading Notre Dame into a Power 5 league, Freeman would position himself as a coach who not only managed one of the most prestigious programs in college football but also oversaw a historic transition. Such a move would significantly boost his coaching profile, potentially leading to a massive contract extension or setting him up for future opportunities in the NFL or at other top-tier programs.
Additionally, competing in a conference would offer Freeman a clearer path to proving himself against elite competition week in and week out, something that could bolster his résumé and further enhance his standing in the coaching ranks.
The University’s Financial Incentives
Notre Dame’s leadership also has financial reasons to consider conference membership. While their NBC TV deal is lucrative, recent media rights negotiations across the Power 5 landscape have shown that major conferences can command even greater television revenue.
For instance, the Big Ten recently secured a record-breaking deal worth over $7 billion with FOX, CBS, and NBC. If Notre Dame were to join the Big Ten, they could immediately tap into those resources, significantly boosting the university’s athletic department budget.
Furthermore, as part of a conference, Notre Dame would no longer have to schedule marquee matchups on their own to maintain national relevance. Instead, they could rely on a competitive conference schedule to keep them in the spotlight while benefiting from shared revenue distributions.
Recruiting Advantages and Long-Term Stability
Another reason Notre Dame may be looking to join a Power 5 conference is recruiting. While the Irish have historically attracted top talent from across the country, recent trends suggest that NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals and conference affiliation are playing a larger role in where top high school athletes choose to play.
SEC and Big Ten schools have leveraged their conference affiliations and massive NIL collectives to dominate recruiting. If Notre Dame remains independent, they risk falling behind in the NIL era, where money and exposure are king. Joining a Power 5 conference would allow them to keep pace with the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and Michigan in the ever-changing recruiting landscape.
Additionally, conference membership would provide the program with long-term stability, ensuring that Notre Dame remains a fixture in college football’s upper echelon as the sport continues to evolve.
A Move for Survival or Self-Interest?
While Freeman and Notre Dame’s leadership can argue that joining a Power 5 conference is about competitiveness, stability, and financial growth, the insider claims that personal interests play a major role in the decision.
For Freeman, cementing his legacy as the coach who transitioned Notre Dame into a conference would be a significant career milestone. It could lead to increased job security, a bigger contract, and future coaching opportunities.
For the university, the financial windfall from conference media rights deals and the ability to keep pace with modern recruiting trends makes joining a Power 5 league a pragmatic move.
Regardless of the underlying motivations, Notre Dame’s potential entry into a Power 5 conference would reshape the college football landscape. It remains to be seen which conference they will choose and how soon the move will happen, but one thing is certain—Notre Dame’s independence may soon be a thing of the past.