On Wednesday, April 14, the ACC announced that it will not count Notre Dame’s annual series against Clemson toward the five-game conference schedule that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish must play.
Notre Dame does not belong to anyone specific conference. However, they have maintained scheduling arrangements with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the past 12 years. What the Fighting Irish arrangements mean is that they have to play a certain number of games against teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Normally, what the five-game conference schedule means is that Notre Dame will play five games against ACC opponents. Notre Dame’s schedule includes games against teams like NC State, Boston College, and Pittsburgh, set for October and November 2025.
What is the Possible Reason Behind the ACC’s Decision?
After the agreement between Notre Dame and Clemson establishing a 12-year annual home-and-home series, the ACC decided to exclude the Clemson game from Notre Dame’s official ACC schedule. This means that even if there is a game between the two teams this year, it doesn’t have anything to do with conference standings.
ACC will not count Notre Dame series against Clemson for their 5 game conference schedule. This will be in addition.
Should the Irish just be added to the ACC? 🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/5w1BhaQJpw
— College Football Alerts (@CFBAlerts_) May 14, 2025
Ordinarily, the fans of the Notre Dame team are used to being independent. The ACC’s announcement served as a reminder to the team’s fans that Notre Dame is fiercely independent.
The fans have had various individual reactions on the internet. However, the general fan reaction is that Notre Dame doesn’t really care what the ACC says, as they are used to being independent, without “bowing to anyone.”
The ACC raised a question that has caused an uproar on the internet: Should the Irish just be added to ACC?
Aside causing an uproar, this question has elicited various reactions from fans—some positive, others negative.
A fan said about the ACC: “F* the @theACC. Such a Mickey Mouse conference.”
Another stated about the ACC’s attempt at tying the Irish team to the ACC: “Notre Dame is never joining a conference. Full stop. Never. Ever. So you can keep trying to wish it into existence, but it is never happening.”
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It is obvious that being independent has done a lot of good for Notre Dame in terms of financial deals. Compared to teams fully in the ACC, Notre Dame’s payout is significantly higher.
Some fans have contrary thoughts and comments like: “So annoying. Join a conference already,” and another: “That would make the ACC the best league academically—even above the Ivy League.” However, overall, independence is important to Notre Dame. Also, with their fresh agreement with Clemson, there is no sign of the Fighting Irish joining the ACC anytime soon.
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