Notre Dame is a full-time ACC member in all of its sports except football. It's been that way since 2013.
But it's looking like that could change … at least for the 2020 season, if one is played.
Stadium Network's Brett McMurphy on Friday reported, and multiple outlets are confirming, the ACC is leaning toward a 10- or eight-game conference schedule with an added non-conference game. If Notre Dame plays eight or 10 ACC teams in this format, its results would count in the ACC standings, which likely would make them eligible for the conference championship game and, possibly, the league's Orange Bowl berth. Notre Dame already has six ACC opponents on its schedule, including one slated for Oct. 17 at Pitt.
It would need approval from ACC's board of directors. That could come Wednesday.
ACC’s top scheduling model is 10 league games plus 1 nonconference foe, sources told @Stadium. In this format if Notre Dame plays 10 ACC teams, results would count in ACC standings, sources said. Unknown if ND could earn ACC’s Orange Bowl bid. This needs ACC presidential approval
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 24, 2020
The deal figures to include the ACC getting a share of Notre Dame's television revenue from NBC.
• The Maxwell Award, presented annually to nation's best player, released its extensive preseason watch list, and, yes, there is a Pitt player on it.
No, it's not who you think.
Safety Paris Ford nor defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman were included, but quarterback Kenny Pickett made it.
Maxwell Award 🏆 Watch List
Kenny Pickett 🌟 QB 🌟 #8#H2P • @KennyPickett10 pic.twitter.com/bQhkgvOnCp
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) July 24, 2020
Pickett, a senior who has started since the final game of the 2017 season, passed for 3,098 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
While Pitt's defensive stars have piled up mentions on preseason watch lists, it shouldn't be a surprise they weren't included on Maxwell's. Only three defenders -- Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, LSU defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. and Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson -- were included.
Besides Pickett and Wilson, the watch list was loaded with ACC players.
- Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville
- David Bailey,RB, Boston College
- Micale Cunningham, QB, Louisville
- Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
- Javian Hawkins, RB, Louisville
- Hendon Hooker, QB, Virginia Tech
- Sam Howell, RB, North Carolina
- D'Eriq King, QB, Miami
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
- Jordan Mason, RB, Georgia Tech
- Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest
- Tamorrion Terry, WR, Florida State
Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett (1976) and Hugh Green (1980) are Maxwell Award winners from Pitt.
• In the biggest non-news of the the day, the NCAA board of governors avoided any major decisions on the fate of fall sports championships. Discussions will continue in August.
The decision should please Power 5 conference commissioners and athletic directors, including Pitt's Heather Lyke, who did not want championships canceled at this point.
"I don't think there is a right decision, but I do think that they are going to take as much information as possible and try to make this decision," Lyke said Thursday during a Zoom conference call with reporters. "There is some hope that, you know, let's wait and try to assess things as much as possible, because a month ago, you might have said, 'Hey, we're ready.'
"If they would cancel the championships it, obviously, it's a domino to how we manage football and what do we do from there."
The board of governors has the authority to cancel or postpone fall championships for most sports, including FCS football. Regular season schedules, however, are competed at the discretion of schools or their conferences.
The board does not have the authority to cancel the College Football Playoff of FBS regular season, though its decision likely will make an impact on whether or not football is played in the fall.
• Michigan State's football team will quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days after the school announced a second staff member and a student athlete tested positive for COVID-19.
"As part of the athletic department's return to campus policy, student-athletes quarantine when coming into close contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19," the school said in a statement. "The university has designated areas available to house individuals in quarantine as needed based upon the living arrangements for student-athletes."
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