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It’s being packaged as a “scheduling partnership,” but make no mistake—Notre Dame and Clemson didn’t just pencil in a nice annual matchup. They lit a match under the ACC’s polite status quo and told the rest of the league: adapt or fade out.
The 12-year agreement to meet annually starting in 2027 looks, on the surface, like a scheduling boost. A win for fans. Big brands colliding. But scratch beneath that press release polish, and you’ll find something far more calculated. This isn’t about tradition. It’s about control.
After months of legal wrangling, threats of departure, and courtroom drama, Clemson and Florida State remain in the ACC—for now—under a restructured deal that rewards high-performing programs with bigger slices of the revenue pie. And guess what earns you those slices? National relevance. Big TV numbers. Games that matter.
Enter Notre Dame.
This is the Irish, still technically independent, flexing their scheduling muscles and bending the ACC’s framework to their liking—because they can. And Clemson? They’re smart enough to know they need premier matchups outside the ACC’s increasingly shaky brand to stay relevant in the College Football Playoff era.
Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney reacts during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Memorial Stadium.Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images
This isn’t a courtesy handshake between old rivals. It’s a survival strategy. The Irish want more big-brand games to pad their CFP resume, especially as strength of schedule grows in importance. Clemson wants to keep the cash flowing in a world where eyeballs mean everything. Both schools want leverage—and this deal gives it to them.
Meanwhile, the ACC is left accommodating. Again.
So yes, enjoy the football. But understand the backdrop: This deal isn’t about what happens on Saturdays. It’s about power, positioning, and two programs making sure they never have to ask the ACC for permission again.
Want a visual to go with this power play? I can create a graphic or headline image that highlights the key players or themes—just let me know.
Continue reading...
The 12-year agreement to meet annually starting in 2027 looks, on the surface, like a scheduling boost. A win for fans. Big brands colliding. But scratch beneath that press release polish, and you’ll find something far more calculated. This isn’t about tradition. It’s about control.
After months of legal wrangling, threats of departure, and courtroom drama, Clemson and Florida State remain in the ACC—for now—under a restructured deal that rewards high-performing programs with bigger slices of the revenue pie. And guess what earns you those slices? National relevance. Big TV numbers. Games that matter.
Enter Notre Dame.
This is the Irish, still technically independent, flexing their scheduling muscles and bending the ACC’s framework to their liking—because they can. And Clemson? They’re smart enough to know they need premier matchups outside the ACC’s increasingly shaky brand to stay relevant in the College Football Playoff era.
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Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney reacts during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Memorial Stadium.Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images
This isn’t a courtesy handshake between old rivals. It’s a survival strategy. The Irish want more big-brand games to pad their CFP resume, especially as strength of schedule grows in importance. Clemson wants to keep the cash flowing in a world where eyeballs mean everything. Both schools want leverage—and this deal gives it to them.
Meanwhile, the ACC is left accommodating. Again.
So yes, enjoy the football. But understand the backdrop: This deal isn’t about what happens on Saturdays. It’s about power, positioning, and two programs making sure they never have to ask the ACC for permission again.
Want a visual to go with this power play? I can create a graphic or headline image that highlights the key players or themes—just let me know.
Related: The N.Y. Jets Find their Franchise Quarterback in Clemson, According to PFF
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Related: Klubnik Draws Heisman Hype as ESPN Tabs Him Among CFP Game-Changers
Related: Jaguars Massive Offseason Move Sends One Message to Trevor Lawrence
Related: Klubnik Draws Heisman Hype as ESPN Tabs Him Among CFP Game-Changers
Continue reading...
