ND’s football situation isn’t radically different from UConn basketball. Each brings disproportionate value to its conference, but both are treated and paid as if they’re interchangeable with any other member.
UConn basketball may already be following a strategy similar to the author's proposed ND football strategy. Tonight is the third time this week a UConn team will be broadcast nationally on FOX, and this year’s aggressive out-of-conference schedule, with an intent to repeat it going forward, looks like a signal that the way media prices basketball is starting to change (think emphasis on branded matchups in high-value broadcast windows vs. overall conference broadcast averages).
Anything that induces conference chaos is good with me.