I want ND to remain an independent, as I expect 99% of the fanbase does. But as I read more about the settlement being discussed in the House v. NCAA case, as well as the other related class action cases againt the NCAA that are following in the pipeline (the Hubbard, Carter and Fontenot cases), it seems increasingly inevitable to me that college football is moving toward the creation of a couple of super conferences or a super league. The proposed settlement in the House case will have the NCAA pay a settlement fund of $3 billion and going forward will allow power conference athletes to share in annual school revenues. If the settlement is approved, it will bring some seismic changes to the game. The several stories I have read say that the smaller Divison I conferences and schools are expected to give a lot of push back against the deal being discussed--because basically they are being kicked to the curb by it--so it is by no means a given it will happen, but we all will have to wait and see. So sadly, the days of ND remaining an independent may be numbered. I truly hope I am wrong, but we will see how all of this shakes out. Hold on to your hats.
In the event you are interested, here is an AP story that came out today on the proposed House settlement:
A potential multibillion-dollar settlement of an antitrust lawsuit cleared the second of a three-step NCAA approval process Tuesday, with no change to a payment structure that would have the 27 college conferences not named in the suit cover the majority of a $1.6 billion portion of the damages.
apnews.com