It took a literal pandemic to get Notre Dame to join a conference in football. And while plenty of rash worries in the midst of that college football chaos pondered the Irish joining the ACC full-time, it was indeed a one-year deal. Notre Dame and the ACC remain accommodating partners, but make no mistake, the Irish are back to independence.
No one has doubted that for some time now, but it was a talking point with some basis in July and August, one revived as Notre Dame reached the ACC championship game in its first season in a conference.