Report: ACC has 'top scheduling model' in mind; involves Notre Dame

As we potentially prepare for a college football season filled with conference-only matchups, it begs the question — what about the independent schools?

Notre Dame is at the top of the list when it comes to FBS independents, and many have wondered what the Fighting Irish would do in 2020.

Per Stadium’s Brett McMurphy, the ACC is considering a 10-game league-play format that would include Notre Dame:

ACC’s top scheduling model is 10 league games plus 1 nonconference foe, sources told @Stadium. In this format if Notre Dame plays 10 ACC teams, results would count in ACC standings, sources said. Unknown if ND could earn ACC’s Orange Bowl bid. This needs ACC presidential approval

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 24, 2020

However, the sources who spoke to McMurphy didn’t know whether or not the Irish would be eligible for the ACC’s Orange Bowl bid.

Either way, in this COVID-19 pandemic world we live in, Notre Dame is probably just happy to have a conference willing to bring it in for a season under these circumstances.