Many college football teams are joining conferences, Notre Dame continues to play as an independent program, meaning it is not part of any conference for football.
Notre Dame has stayed independent for many years because it values tradition and wants freedom in scheduling games. Being independent allows the team to play schools from all over the country, including rivals USC and Navy.
Although Notre Dame football is not in a conference, most of its other sports compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The football team also plays several ACC teams each season but does not compete for a conference championship.
Some people think Notre Dame should join a conference to make playoff chances easier, while others believe independence is an important part of the school’s identity. For now, Notre Dame plans to continue standing on its own in college football.
