Once the BCS bowls are selected, Notre Dame counts as a Big East team for bowl purposes. Technically the agreements only include the Sun and Gator Bowls, as Notre Dame would be taken by them if they are eligible.

The NCAA, however, has rules that limit the bowl placement of 6-6- teams. A conference must place its teams with a winning record (7-5 or 6-5 and a non qualifying game) into its contracted bowls before placing a 6-6 team into a contracted bowl.

Since Notre Dame got creamed by USC, ended up 6-6 and the Irish are locked out of the Big East bowl contracts.  No Sun Bowl, No Gator Bowl.

Where then would Notre Dame go?

How about Detroit ?

At 6-6, out of the BCS and without a Big East tie-in...  Notre Dame doesn't have the greatest of options.  They would be desired because they are Notre Dame.   And the travel well.  But will this team travel well ?  They have been killed, KILLED, every time they have played a name opponent over the last 2 years.  You know it, I know it, the Notre Dame faithful know it and the bowl selection committee knows it.

I mean really..  if you're the Hawaii Bowl (my 2nd best guess for destination Irish) do you really want to see ND come to the Island, have half their fans not show up and have Hawaii hang 50 on them by the half ?  I think Western Michigan heading off to get laid is a more likely option.

So then..  how about a nice in-state rivarly between Ball State and Notre Dame at Ford Field ?

With the Big 10 not having 7 bowl eligible teams, that leaves the Motor City bowl looking for an at-large team to fill that second spot.

All of Indiana would make the trip..   Many MSU/UM/OSU fans might come on up just to see Notre Dame get kicked around by the Fighting Lettermans.

On top of that..  the Motor City Bowl pays decent..  $750K a team.  Most folks might not realize that, but the MCB pays out a better then most of the other lower rung bowls..  and it doesn't cost an arm & leg to get there.  Unlike Hawaii bowl which pays $400K and it costs twice that to travel there.