JR analyzes the impact of conference realignment and scheduling changes on Notre Dame football, emphasizing that the team will not be iced out. College football realignment might even create more opportunities for big-time matchups, ensuring that the Fighting Irish remain competitive. The Big Ten schedule and other conference adjustments play a key role.

What does the SEC 9 Game Conference Schedule mean for the Big Ten? https://youtu.be/5Bm1Da32HXE

Join JR on The Big Ten Huddle as he breaks down the latest in college football conference realignment, focusing on Heather Dinich's ESPN report about the SEC's shift to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026. This move requires SEC teams to play at least one opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, or Notre Dame annually, which sources say "further solidifies" Notre Dame's independence. JR explains why this is a huge win for the Fighting Irish, preserving their non-conference games against SEC powerhouses like Alabama, Texas, and Florida, while maintaining their rock-solid NBC Sports deal, ACC ties for Olympic sports, and clear path to the expanded College Football Playoff.From a Big Ten perspective, JR tackles the swirling Notre Dame Big Ten rumors, arguing that this SEC decision slams the door on any immediate move. He highlights how Notre Dame has thrived independently despite scheduling challenges—playing 8 Power 4 teams last year but 10 this season—and sees no derailment from the impact of conference realignment on Notre Dame football. Concerns like the Big Ten reducing out-of-conference games or USC potentially dropping its iconic rivalry with Notre Dame are addressed, but JR notes the SEC's inclusivity makes independence "bulletproof."Diving deeper, JR discusses how this pushes Notre Dame closer to the ACC, especially if the 17-team league adopts nine games. Citing Bret McMurphy's X post, he points out the mathematical impossibility and suggests counting Notre Dame's ACC games as league contests as a fix—absurd but fitting for college football's chaos. This shift torpedoes Big Ten hopes, putting rivalries like Michigan vs Notre Dame (resuming in 2033-34), Purdue vs Notre Dame (reinstated for five years), and USC vs Notre Dame at risk.JR speculates on Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti's response, sharing Petitti's June comments on The Joel Klatt Show affirming Notre Dame's playoff access. He predicts the Big Ten will likely mirror the SEC's approach for mutual benefits, like boosted TV ratings via their shared NBC tie-in. Ultimately, JR concludes Notre Dame won't join the Big Ten soon, thanks to their TV contract, playoff path, and the positive impact of conference expansion.Don't miss JR's insights on College Football Expansion and more Big Ten talk—power rankings, previews, reactions coming all season! Like, subscribe, and hit notifications for daily videos and live streams.Additional The Big Ten Huddle Channels:@TheBigTenHuddleBasketball@TheOhioStateHuddle More from JR:Personal Twitter: https://x.com/jrs_rankingsBig Ten Twitter: https://x.com/TheBigTenHuddleRead JR's Ohio State coverage: https://scarletandgame.com/author/jrhoades1Read JR's Illinois coverage: https://writingillini.com/author/jrhoades1SPONSORSCoach's Film Room - Sign up for the Menace Army: Colonel tier at https://menace2sports.com/channels/coachs-film-room Bleav - https://bleav.com/Homefield - https://www.homefieldapparel.com/?rfsn=7872586.e3e1d25 | Coupon Code: TBTHCatch The Big Ten Huddle Football Episodes 3 times a week. Here is when to catch our live or premiere episodes that are about an hour long (eastern time):- Sunday at 9 PM w/ Zack- Tuesday at 9 PM w/ Zack- Thursday at 9 PM w/ JeffYou can also expect videos by JR throughout the week covering news and interesting topics.*All times are Eastern timeAUDIO ONLY PLATFORMSThe Big Ten Huddle is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon.LISTEN: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/TheBigTenHuddleLEAVE a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-college-huddle-podcast/id1703305789STREAM on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4tMaraKvafFzjUrXGq2c4w The Big Ten Huddle is a podcast dedicated to providing honest, humorous, and insightful analysis of Big Ten football and basketball. With a focus on challenging the national bias, especially against the SEC, hosts JR and Zack offer unfiltered discussions that engage fans of all Big Ten teams. Though critical at times, they always aim to defend the conference and give credit where it’s due, bringing humor and deep analysis together for a unique listening experience.Rooted in values of integrity, passion, and community, The Big Ten Huddle strives to become the go-to voice for Big Ten sports fans.There is no show out there like The Big Ten Huddle!🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5102755454124032