Remember that Dodds is trying to get ND as no. 13. We will find a traving partner for ND for no. 14. SEC does not want to expand for a few years to see how 14 works for them. Dodds wants to have a similar number to match SEC for cross matches.
Notre Dame doesn't need a travel partner. They want a friend.
Pitt is a friend. Who happens to be the primary rival and a great travel partner for our current #10.
They also happen to be an AAU school, which we probably care about at some level.
True. If we get ND to agree to join in 2016, then we'll be free to invite Pitt. This could happen this summer. This makes sense of Dodds statement of "take two and the rest will come." He also said we may need to take 3 to get to 14.
Here's the thing...we can take two now and leave Pitt/GT/VT in the ACC for however long we want to keep them there. VT, GT, and Maryland will never sign a grant of rights because they'll all be looking for the SEC/Big Ten/Big 12 to come after them when the time is right.
Depending on how the playoff thing shakes out, ND isn't going to want to wait until 2016 to join a conference (should that be a pre-req). If we have to get creative with their NBC contract in 2014 or 2015, whatever. Or if we have to make 13 work with Pitt for a few years while ND is a partial member, whatever.
As long as the light at the end of the tunnel is coming from Touchdown Jesus, and he's raining money on us like Pacman Jones at a strip club, we'll do anything.