According to ESPN the Pac-12/Big 10 scheduling agreement has fallen apart due, in part, to ND. The Big 10 may be considering other leagues for scheduling agreements. I assume the Big 12 is uninterested since they already play 9 conference games.
Looks like the Big 10 was trying to use the Pac 12 to put a squeeze on ND, but Stanford and USC said no to Big and yes to ND.
Notre Dame isn't gonna join up with any conference in football...they don't absolutely have to do so under the guidelines of the four team playoff. Every conference out there, including the Big XII, needs to get on with business without planning for the Irish. Reference the PAC, I'm starting to get the idea that under Larry Scott, that conference ALMOST does some good things...until they don't. They ALMOST add UT, OU, OSU, etc...they ALMOST work out a scheduling deal with B1G...they're just not real big on closing the deal.
The way the Presidents acted ND owned the high ground. That was BS. What would ND (or BYU) do if the rule was only conference members were eligible for playoff consideration? Yell that they were being discriminated against - would not hold water as BYU and any other independent would face the same fate. In fact, the fact that all other sports at both of these schools are in a conference would not support their claim.
If ND won't join the Big 10, one almost wonders if the Big 10 will become the 4th best football conference after the SEC, Big XII, and Pac-12. The Pac-12 has MNC contenders in USC and Oregon, and the SEC and Big XII have theirs, but how close are Michigan and Wisconsin to being MNC contenders? Even the ACC has Florida State ranked ahead of Michigan in the pre-season Coaches' Poll.
