Notre Dame has long held proud its status as an Independent non-conference team, but there is some concern that could now mean that their 2020 season is in jeopardy. However, Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick seems confident that even with a shortened season Notre Dame football will be fine.
There has been some discussion that individual conferences could decide to eliminate all non-conference games; for Notre Dame that would mean 10 of its 12 scheduled opponents would disappear. Notre Dame football has a loose association with the ACC, which accounts for six of its games this season, but football is not an official part of the conference.
Swarbrick tells ESPN that if it goes that way Notre Dame will still have a “high quality, full schedule”. Swarbrick has been pushing a “conference only, plus one” format that would allow Notre Dame to hold on to at least some of its Power 5 opponents.
