Most avid college football followers are aware of the issues currently facing the ACC, Notre Dame’s full home conference for most sports, and partial partner in football. Unfortunately, they are locked in a TV deal with ESPN for 13 more years that features a payout per year that makes it untenable when compared to the payouts the SEC and Big Ten are anticipating. How untenable? Possibly up to 50 million dollars per year less than the “big two”.

There are options for the ACC members, but not any great ones. If the ACC breaks up, Notre Dame will need to find a new home for all sports. If the ACC restructures TV payouts to push more resources to teams that move the needle, this will also impact Notre Dame’s TV negotiations which may find them looking for a new home.

Sometimes it feels like all signs eventually point towards Notre Dame joining a conference full-time. Not by choice. Mine or theirs. But rather by force of practicality, circumstances, and resources. IF, the Irish feel they need to join the Big Ten to stay financially and competitively viable in all sports, as hard as this is for me to write, it’d be a terrific landing spot for many reasons. Let’s examine them.

TV Money

If Notre Dame were to join the Big Ten, many of its financial concerns would be resolved. The new TV deal payout for the conference is likely to payout around 90 million per year per team. This is a steep jump in revenue from the Irish’s current deal of 22 million per year from NBC.

This money would enable Notre Dame to finally complete some Kelly-era infrastructure projects and know that money will not be an impediment to competing. Is this long-term financial security alone worth relinquishing independence? This question is being asked in Irish boardrooms as we speak.

Rivalries Galore

Should the Irish join the Big Ten, most weeks would feel like rivalry games for all involved. Either by history or geography, there would be intrigue for most weeks of Notre Dame’s schedule.

The cherry on top regarding the scheduling discussion is USC. They are Notre Dame’s top rival and just so happen to be joining the Big Ten. It seems to me that the only drawback to a Big Ten schedule is the fact that it is a Big Ten schedule and not an independent one. A tough pill to swallow for many, present company included.

No Notre Dame Playoff Tax

As it stands currently, Notre Dame is eligible for the new CFP 12 team playoff, but they will pay a tax in the form of not being able to earn a bye due to being Independent. Should the Irish join the conference, this barrier would be eliminated.

Under this dynamic, the Irish would be on equal footing regarding the CFP and also would be eligible to participate in the Big Ten Championship. Let that sink in.

Great Home For All Other Sports

It’s important to keep in mind that this discussion is not just about football. Yes, it generates the most revenue of all the sports, but Notre Dame must prioritize finding the best landing spot for all sports.

The Big Ten offers high-quality competition and is a great academic fit for Notre Dame as well. It’d be a fine union. While I have a strong allegiance for Independence and still harbor ill will towards how the Big Ten has treated the Irish in the past if they felt forced to join a conference, the fit couldn’t be better in all of the most important ways.

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Story originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire