A quick roundup of where the Big Ten’s peers stand on the subject of non-conference play:
- The SEC is planning a face-to-face meeting between Sankey and the 14 ADs next Monday. While the original plan may have been to take the temperature in the room on a general course of action, it’s not much of a stretch to expect those plans have changed.
- According to Dan Wetzel, the Pac-12 and ACC will reportedly soon follow the Big Ten’s course of action.
- “In fact, Bowlsby was a bit perturbed that the Big Ten announced it will move to a conference-only schedule in 2020 if it plays college football at all this season. The league made that decision after the FBS commissioners met by phone Thursday morning.”
- Will nobody think of Notre Dame? “The most likely and expected scenario there would be for Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick and ACC commissioner John Swofford to extend their partnership and have the Irish fill the rest of their schedule with ACC games. Notre Dame is set to play six ACC opponents already.”
Get The Picture 
I wish we could play Notre Dame again.
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If UVA can’t play us, the ACC should offer that game to Notre Dame (assuming Navy backs out of their game).
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I was really hoping to see ND squirm to find anyone to play and be victimized by their own elitism. Too bad their one-foot-in-the-water relationship with the ACC will probably bail them out.
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I’m betting that the league announces either a 9th conference game or a scheduling agreement that saves the SEC-ACC end of season rivalry games. Of course, who would want to play Boston College, Syracuse or Pitt?
If the ACC decides to go conference only, I’m guessing the SEC falls into line quickly.
If all of that happens, do we have to go back to Mark Richt/Kirby Smart Field at Vince Dooley Stadium in 2021?
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I wish there wasn’t so much deference to ND and this situation left them swinging in the wind for their go it alone attitude.
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They are a member of the ACC in every other sport. There was no way Swofford and his ADs were going to allow Notre Dame to be left out. As a result, 6 of his schools already have their 9th game lined up.
That’s another reason why I see the 9th conference game from the SEC of all of the leagues drop their OOC schedules.
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It also assures the Golden Domers a place in the CFP.
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I doubt it … they are playing Clemson this year as one of their ACC games. If Clemson curb-stomps them, I don’t see any way ND gets a spot because they won’t be eligible to participate in the World’s Smallest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
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Other than shorter airplane trips and not fighting with certain governors, how does conference only make football safer? This seems to be protect your financial interests while acting like you are making it safer for your players.
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This is about minimizing the financial impact, appearing to take a safety stance, and giving the players an opportunity to play. The players have made it clear they want to play whether fans are in the stadium or not.
In other words, they are throwing as much $#!+ up against the wall to see what sticks.
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I think the Power 5 have much better resources for testing, etc for Covid….ie more $$$$$
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If we have a ninth SEC game, it should be against Auburn in Athens.
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“While the original plan may have been to take the temperature in the room”.
Literally!
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“Conference ADs meeting to see how to tell their college presidents to shut up and stop posturing about cancelling the season altogether.” FIFY
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If the ACC goes conference-only, why not simplify further and just let Clemson face area high schools so there’s no travel risk?
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Notre Dame could always line up the other 6 independent FBS programs, too. Army, UMass, UConn, NMSU, Liberty, and BYU.
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At least three of those teams would be sterner competition than what they’ll see against ACC schools.
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