John makes a really good point about why ND may find continued independence too good to pass up. I’m betting that with a 12-team field, ND would make the playoffs more often than 1/3 or the time. Not having to split those playoff shares is huge. Add to that a lucrative NBC deal for the next decade (even if it doesn’t equal Big 10 payouts, the CFP share will more than equalize the revenue) and an independent ND is sitting pretty. I’m not so sure it means that Oregon or Washington will make the playoffs, though, particularly if there is no guarantee that conference champs are included.