Notre Dame has long wielded outsized influence in its relationship with the ACC, but a new report suggests the Fighting Irish may be preparing to flex their muscles in ways that could reshape the conference landscape entirely.

According to USA Today's Matt Hayes, the next phase of Notre Dame's power plays could include refusing to play Miami after this November, skipping matchups with rising program SMU, and even forcing neutral-site games against ACC opponents—potentially sold to streaming giants like Amazon, Netflix, or Apple.

"The ACC didn't fine Notre Dame for its insufferable insubordination in December," Hayes wrote, pointing to the fallout from the 2025 season when the Fighting Irish were snubbed from the College Football Playoff despite having the same record as Miami. "Didn't blink when Notre Dame believed it should've been selected and blamed the ACC for a lack of support."

This isn't just speculation about future scheduling. Notre Dame already secured a major concession when the CFP rules were changed specifically to prevent another snub. Now, Hayes warns the relationship could become even more one-sided.

"What's next, Notre Dame demanding it doesn't have to play Miami after this season? Or it won't play SMU? Or worse, it chooses who it plays and where—including neutral-site road games sold to streaming services," Hayes continued. "If you don't think that's coming, you haven't been following this submissive relationship."

For ACC teams, this would mean losing valuable home game revenue and traditional rivalry matchups. For Notre Dame, it's another step in leveraging their independent status while enjoying ACC benefits—a dynamic that has many questioning how much longer the conference will tolerate such lopsided terms.