Why Do People Think The New Playoff Format Forces Notre Dame To a Conference???

So the new College Football Playoff format has been agreed on (for now). It is now a 12 team event with the top five conference champions getting a berth with the remaining seven berths coming from the CFP rankings -- aka "at large" bids. The top four conference champions will receive byes in the first round of the playoff. 

So eyes looked at Notre Dame, easily the most prominent Independent school, and speculation began about how they are getting screwed. Why? Why do you think that?

First off, Notre Dame knew exactly what they were getting into with this deal. In fact, the format that has ultimately been agreed on is even better than the one Notre Dame signed off on less than a year ago. Before the Pac-12 imploded, the CFP was planning to be a 6+6 format where six conference champions get automatic bids and there were only six at-large slots. Notre Dame was fine with that, so why do you think they'd be upset that now there's an extra slot that the Irish could earn?

So you understand what Notre Dame has agreed to: Notre Dame is not in a conference, so Notre Dame has no way to get into the College Football Playoff aside from earning one of the top seven at-large bids. Notre Dame also has no access to a first round bye since those are for conference champions ... which Notre Dame can't be. 

Sure, on the surface that seems like Notre Dame is at a disadvantage ... and they are. But this is a disadvantage they are fully prepared for and one they are willing to deal with as a price for their freedom of not being bound to a conference. This is what they want. They get better access than they have over the last decade and what they initially agreed to less than a year ago. 

This will not force Notre Dame to the ACC. Or the Big Ten. Or any conference. In fact, it likely strengthens their ability to stay an Independent. Their main goals to stay an Independent is access to a national championship (which I've already explained is there ... and has gotten better), ability to schedule (their deal with the ACC accomplishes that) and a lucrative television contract (which they've signed with NBC). 

Notre Dame won't be joining a conference for football. Not anytime soon and not unless football actually breaks off from the NCAA and forms its own league.