College football is just around the corner and

[quercus alba]

But, they’re probably looking at it pretty closely. They’re contractually obligated to join the ACC for football if they decide to give up being an independent.

I've never understood that myself, from a geographic and from a money standpoint the Big Ten is the only logical route for Notre Dame. I understand they like being able to call the shots but Clemson, Fla St, Miami and Va Tech compare very similarly to Ohio st, Mich, Purdue, Indiana and Mich st plus the Big 10 revenue is nearly twice what the ACC is.
Notre Dame is going to have a target on their back no matter where they play.