Notre Dame fans or not, in your opinion is best for ND future to join a conference in football?

Ive always thought they should join the Big 10. Or they could join their basket ball team in the Big East

I disagree with your premise that ND is 'trapped' and unable to make BCS games. Just look at 2005 and 2006 for your counterexamples! Notre Dame's national popularity enable them to have their own clause in the BCS rules meaning that they're still completely able to play in the BCS. Now granted, if they were in a conference the possibility would exist for them to earn a BCS bid despite not deserving it (Florida St. in the 2006 Orange Bowl despite being #23; Pitt in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl despite a #21 ranking), but I think this is much more the exception than the rule, i.e., the teams that win the BCS conferences are usually top 10 teams.

So if Notre Dame would hardly be more assured of a chance at a BCS bid, what would they lose? Well, scheduling for certain. Notre Dame consistently has one of the toughest schedules in the country because they can pick and choose who they play. More importantly, Notre Dame has rivalries with schools across the country. Joining a conference would make it very difficult for the Irish to still play Michigan, Purdue, Michigan St., USC, Navy, Boston College, Stanford, Pitt, et. al. on a regular basis. Independent status gives ND unmatched scheduling flexiblity as evidenced by series with Miami, Florida St., Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, Penn St., and Tennessee.

Not to mention joining a conference would put a severe crimp on Notre Dame's football revenues which, after all, are the reason why a small school in northern Indiana has been able to grow into the premiere Catholic university in America.

In short, ND won't be joining a conference any time soon because it's simply not beneficial for them. Not from the standpoint of finances, identity, or competition.

It probably isn't in Notre Dame's best interest to join a conference. If they qualify for a BCS game they'll almost always be selected as an at large berth because of their huge national fan base. Trust me, the Sugar Bowl would much rather have chosen ND over Utah regardless of records. Any bowl in its right mind would choose a 2 loss ND over an undefeated Utah, Boise State, or Hawaii if given the chance (assuming, of course, that the 2 loss ND team was BCS eligible).

Having the football team align with a conference would also jeopardize the 100% lock ND has on TV revenue due to the deal with NBC. Bowl revenue would also have to be split 10+ ways. It probably wouldn't be financially practical.

Hmmm...the "additional details" added by Douglas N make it clear to this reader that he hasn't bothered to do any research into the relationship between ND and TV. It's much easier, I suppose, to just tell people they are wrong rather than studying the situation to determine the facts.

NBC renewed the deal with ND in 2008 through the end of the 2015 season. NBC also expanded the arrangement from 7 games to 8 games. Fox, CBS, and ABC/ESPN all expressed interest in acquiring the rights to ND games prior to the renewal. There is plenty of evidence to lead a reasonable person to believe that ND will have a significant TV deal in place at least as long as the BCS exists in its current state. The facts are the facts and until ND can determine that joining a conference will create the same $20M income that the current arrangement generates there's just no point in changing something that isn't broken.

As an Irish fan I thought of this a lot, and I think they should stay where they are. I like how they are independent.

If they did join a conference, they would probably go to the Big East (like their basketball team), but then they would dominate it and it would be unfair.

As long as Notre Dame has a good season, I think they'll be given a bowl game they deserve. They play some quality teams every year.

GO IRISH!

If Notre Dame is eligible for a BCS game, they will get in. A one loss ND team will get into a national championship game over just about any other one loss school. ND always plays at least 2 or 3 really tough games each year, and that, combined with their name, is enough to propel them into the good bowl games and national championship game when they have a good season.

Well it's a two way street for them. They can either join the Big East or the Big 10 but being an Independent seems to help them out more

But I thought that there were provisions within the BCS to get an automatic bid if they fulfil the selection criteria.

To be honest, they should concentrate more on getting their team right. Weiss is running out of excuses.

Having Notre Dame join a conference would not help them!!They will never be a football power again!

Nope

Heck no, they would get pwned.