It strikes me as interesting, and I think it is probably true, that Notre Dame needs the BigEast to stay together as a big time league in order for them to keep their football independence. They know that the so called "Catholic conference" of Big East non-football schools just won't cut it as a home for their other sports and nobody else is likely to give them a home without bringing football along. Seems to make sense as to why they are in charge of the expansion committee. I don't think they really want to have to compete in the B-10...as a private smaller school it would be very difficult in my view(ND has +-8500 undergrads, Northwestern has 12000, the next smallest B-10 school, Nebraska has 25,000). nor do they want to join the ACC which would be a very tough sell to the alumni and supporters due to location and frankly the priority/quality of football. They ain't going to the B-12, SEC or PAC either so that leaves putting together a Big East deal as their much preferred option.