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Notre Dame not in any expansion mix

Posted by Mark Blaudschun, Globe Staff April 21, 2010 02:35 PM

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Much of the talk about Big Ten expansion has involved Notre Dame. But according to a source who is here at the BCS meetings and is familiar with the situation, Notre Dame has never been a serious player in the Big Ten's consideration and is not a player now.

"They haven't been in the mix for awhile,'' said the source. who did say that Big Ten expansion of three or five teams was very possible.

According to the source, Notre Dame is fairly confident that it can remain as a full independent in football and remain connected to the Big East--even a smaller all Catholic version of the Big East--which would protect not only basketball, but all of its other non-revenue producing sports.

So expansion is on the horizon and it should affect the Big Ten, the Big East, the SEC, the ACC, and the Big 12.

But Notre Dame? Not likely.