[ColoradoTree]

Why is “the writing on the wall” that if Notre Dame goes to the B1G, Stanford would go along for the ride?

BC

Oh, certainly nothing official. But I've seen reports from journalists that cover Big Ten schools that Stanford is perceived as desirable for the Big Ten as a combination of its own merits and as an inducement to get Notre Dame to join the conference to have most of its traditional rivals (and a guaranteed trip to CA every year) in the fold. There was a report quoting an anonymous ND source saying their willingness to leave the ACC and join the Big Ten for everything increases substantially if Stanford joins alongside them. And a report that Stanford had reached out to the Big Ten and even floated a reduced revenue share to make our transition more palatable for legacy Big Ten members. 

It is, of course, all very fluid. And nothing is done until it's done. And the decisionmakers aren't going on record publicly on any of this, meaning we're putting far too much weight on reporters citing anonymous sources--sources who may have their own ulterior motives to drive a certain outcome one way or another. BUT: there does seem to be a lingering sense among journalists that cover ND/the Big Ten that if ND comes on board, Stanford probably does, too. 

Certainly from my own perspective, if (1) Notre Dame said they'd join the Big Ten if Stanford came as well, and (2) the Big Ten offered us a spot, we would absolutely leap at it.

[ColoradoTree]

Why is “the writing on the wall” that if Notre Dame goes to the B1G, Stanford would go along for the ride?

BC

Oh, certainly nothing official. But I've seen reports from journalists that cover Big Ten schools that Stanford is perceived as desirable for the Big Ten as a combination of its own merits and as an inducement to get Notre Dame to join the conference to have most of its traditional rivals (and a guaranteed trip to CA every year) in the fold. There was a report quoting an anonymous ND source saying their willingness to leave the ACC and join the Big Ten for everything increases substantially if Stanford joins alongside them. And a report that Stanford had reached out to the Big Ten and even floated a reduced revenue share to make our transition more palatable for legacy Big Ten members. 

It is, of course, all very fluid. And nothing is done until it's done. And the decisionmakers aren't going on record publicly on any of this, meaning we're putting far too much weight on reporters citing anonymous sources--sources who may have their own ulterior motives to drive a certain outcome one way or another. BUT: there does seem to be a lingering sense among journalists that cover ND/the Big Ten that if ND comes on board, Stanford probably does, too. 

Certainly from my own perspective, if (1) Notre Dame said they'd join the Big Ten if Stanford came as well, and (2) the Big Ten offered us a spot, we would absolutely leap at it.