Brian Kelly warns Notre Dame independence could suffer if ACC dissolves
Former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, now at LSU, raised concern about what a potential ACC breakup could mean for the Fighting Irish's scheduling future during a Oct. 1 SiriusXM appearance. Notre Dame has a long-standing deal requiring it to host roughly five ACC opponents per season through 2037, and its 2026 schedule already lists six ACC programs among its opponents. As the SEC and Big Ten have both expanded to nine conference games, and the ACC moves in the same direction, fewer nonconference slots are available league-wide — making high-quality scheduling partners harder to secure. Kelly's remarks were speculative rather than tied to any announced breakup, but according to his analysis, losing ACC access would put Notre Dame's independent football model under significant pressure.
If the ACC had a breakup, where does that leave Notre Dame?
Why it matters
For coaches: Independent programs like Notre Dame rely on conference scheduling agreements to build competitive slates, and coaches must plan years in advance around those partnerships.
For media: Fewer marquee Notre Dame nonconference matchups would reduce the number of high-interest independent games available to broadcast partners.
For athletes: Notre Dame players' access to high-profile nonconference games — which affect national perception and playoff positioning — could shrink if the ACC fractured.
Read the full story at Yahoo Sports college football
Sources
- Yahoo Sports college football: “Take Them Off Your Schedule”: Ex-Coach Spills Beans on Notre Dame’s Nightmare If ACC Breaks Up