Notre Dame is reportedly seeking to significantly increase its football rights fees to $65 million to $75 million annually in the next round of media negotiations. However, if the Fighting Irish want to secure such a lucrative deal, they may have to consider giving up their cherished independence and join a power conference.
The issue of independence is crucial for Notre Dame as its current TV contract with NBC Sports, which began in 1991, is set to expire after the 2024 college football season. While the partnership with NBC has been groundbreaking, the current annual payments from rights fees fall behind those of power conference schools.
Currently, Notre Dame receives around mid-$30 million for overall rights fees, including $22 million per year from their football-only contract with NBC and approximately $11 million annually from the ACC for other sports.
In contrast, schools like Ohio State and Michigan stand to benefit from the Big Ten’s new seven-year, mid-$7 billion deal with NBC, Fox Sports, and CBS Sports, which could provide up to $90 million to these schools. This financial advantage puts Notre Dame at a disadvantage.
Media consultant Patrick Crakes suggests that Notre Dame may need the support of a conference to secure the desired three-fold increase in rights fees. He mentions the Big Ten or SEC as potential options, and he doesn’t rule out the possibility of a new conference emerging in the future.
The incoming Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, who is currently the chairman of NBC Sports, could play a crucial role in deciding the program’s future. As a Notre Dame alum and a risk-taker, he may be the power broker who finally brings Notre Dame football into a power conference.
However, former Green Bay Packers executive Andrew Brandt believes that Notre Dame will choose to remain independent. Given the significant escalation in college football rights fees, he suggests that Notre Dame may prioritize maintaining independence rather than being folded into the Big Ten deal.
The decision regarding Notre Dame’s future and its TV contract will have significant implications for the program, the conference landscape, and the financial landscape of college football.