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Post being replied to

I think the biggest issue was by tf86

Lack of scheduling flexibility for schools with an in-state SEC rival that they played annually (Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson and later Louisville).

With a 9-game conference schedule, they would play: 9 conference opponents, + SEC in-state rival, + (occasionally, anyway) ND. That left those schools with only one open date per season in years where they played ND.

If ND were to join the ACC, that would take that issue off the table completely. Moreover, they'll add another member to keep divisions numerically balanced. A 16-team conference with only eight conference games (and the one cross-divisional game mandated for all teams) would have the effect of creating, effectively, two separate conferences.

If ND joins, I think a 9-game conference schedule is inevitable. The better hope for scheduling flexibility would be the NCAA approving a 13-game regular season (better chance of that happening, at least imho, than many people realize, if/when COVID is off the table).