Notre Dame Reportedly Likely To Remain Independent

Skip to content Apr 23, 2022; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; A detail of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet during warmups of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports By Phillip Bupp on 08/16/2022

With the Big Ten adding UCLA and USC in 2024 and likely including CBS and NBC in their next TV deal, many have wondered what happens to Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have maintained their independent status while having their own agreement with NBC but recent strategic moves have put everything into question. It looks like the picture is getting clearer.

According to Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand, Notre Dame is likely remaining independent as some speculate that the school could potentially triple their rights fee when their current deal with NBC ends in 2025. NBC currently pays Notre Dame around $25 million/year.

Some might see NBC’s Big Ten deal as a potential threat to Notre Dame’s relative exclusivity with the network but if Notre Dame remains at NBC, it might be worth it for them to collaborate and schedule more Big Ten opponents even if they’re not in the conference. NBC can synergize their Big Ten deal with their Notre Dame one and that might result in a higher fee for the Fighting Irish cross-promoting NBC Big Ten broadcasts.

For the 2022 season, Notre Dame has games against Ohio State and USC but those are the only Big Ten teams on the schedule. And one of them won’t be in the conference for two more seasons. As Ourand noted, he revealed that he’s expecting Notre Dame to schedule Michigan sometime before 2033, when they’re supposed to play next. That could be the start of more Big Ten schools heading to South Bend in the coming years.

[Sports Business Journal]

About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @phillipbupp

View all posts by Phillip Bupp Follow on Twitter

Related Content

ESPN's non-stop WWE promotion is a culture shock

Shut up and dribble: the political lean of pro sports in America

It's inevitable that the college football bowl system will die

Are there any adults left in the room at ESPN? Adam Schefter's Sherrone Moore debacle says no

Recent Posts

"The players made great shots, like they do every year – but, they also gave real effort at both ends. All anyone wants."

"I always enjoyed watching us beat Indiana."

Viewership is up 16% heading into the All-Star break, though the discoverability problem hasn't gone away.

Bob Costas, fittingly, introduced John Tesh ahead of the NBA All-Star Game performance.

Noah Eagle will call Sunday's NBA All-Star Game at 29 and wants to bridge the gap between 22-year-olds and 72-year-olds watching at home.

WBD is reportedly weighing whether to reopen negotiations with Paramount after the company sweetened its hostile takeover bid.

Sidebar

Popular Posts

Pat McAfee’s top feuds, beefs, and rants of 2025

Dave Portnoy & Troy Aikman prove the NIL bubble is already bursting

The 10 best movies of 2025

The top sports media feuds of 2025

Awful Announcing’s 2025 college football media bias rankings

Top 10 sports broadcasting bloopers of 2025

Recent Posts

"The players made great shots, like they do every year – but, they also gave real effort at both ends. All anyone wants."

"I always enjoyed watching us beat Indiana."

Viewership is up 16% heading into the All-Star break, though the discoverability problem hasn't gone away.

Bob Costas, fittingly, introduced John Tesh ahead of the NBA All-Star Game performance.

Noah Eagle will call Sunday's NBA All-Star Game at 29 and wants to bridge the gap between 22-year-olds and 72-year-olds watching at home.

WBD is reportedly weighing whether to reopen negotiations with Paramount after the company sweetened its hostile takeover bid.

arrow