Notre Dame is in discussions with the ACC about the Discover Orange Bowl, the school confirmed Monday night following a report in the Chicago Tribune.
"Since the development of the new plan for postseason football, the ACC and Notre Dame have had discussions relating to the Orange Bowl," spokesman John Heisler said in a statement. "While presidents have been consulted, the discussions have been between ACC conference staff and [Notre Dame athletic director] Jack [Swarbrick]."
An ACC spokesperson declined comment, deferring to commissioner John Swofford's comments last Tuesday to ESPN.com's Heather Dinich, when Swofford said: "I think it’s likely Notre Dame could be involved in the mix."
The ACC and the Orange Bowl announced last Tuesday that they had agreed on a 12-year deal, with the game to be played every New Year's Day at 1 p.m. ET, even when it is a national semifinal contest. The game will feature the ACC champion unless that team is chosen to play in the newly announced four-team playoff, which begins in the 2014-15 season. Then, a replacement ACC team would play in the South Florida-based game.
