I agree with you. Clearly, ND has lots of money and power or it wouldn't be the only independent college in the country to basically have its own network for all these years. Can you name one major college football program that has the same setup? Even Alabama doesn't have its down network!
I'll make this easy for both of you. Do you feel ND has as much influence now as they did 20yrs ago? Yes/No only question.
You'll have to explain that one. Notre Dame's television contract continues with NBC through 2025. The amount they receive does not go down. You keep talking they don't carry the same clout as they did 20 years ago. I never said they did. But they are a national brand with a large fan base that would enhance any conference and television networks will pay top dollar to the conference that convinces them to join.
Pac12 perspective http://tigerfan.com/threads/emerald-green-and-lemon-yellow.100304/page-502#post-1972276
Stay with me here, not trying to split hairs. I don't know how to respond WRT that word....influence. To me, in today's context, influence is money and I don't think they've lost much ground in that regard in the last 20 years. Despite pressure and offers, they have continued to be relevant, continued to make mega-money, and continued to be independent. In 2020-2021, the ACC reached a record $578M in revenue after adding ND for 1 year. That was a 16.4% increase. ND gets over $3M/yr from the CFP whether they are selected or not. In 2019, Forbes put them at #5 most valuable football program in the country In 2018-2019, in terms of money made, they were ranked 4th overall, up 2 from the prior year. ND has an alum on the CFP Committee. Their annual endowment is bigger than USC's. After Texas/Oklahoma and now USC/ucla, there is no other bigger "domino" to fall than ND. They can use the Big10's current interest and leverage more money out of NBC. At the moment, they are still as influential IMO. The minute they join a conference.....it all goes away.
