Looking for more green, both literal and figurative, the Atlantic Coast Conference presidents have begun discussions with Notre Dame about becoming the conference's 12th member, according to newspaper reports Thursday.

Citing sources inside and outside the league, the Charlotte Observer reported that the ACC has made concessions to ease Notre Dame's concern about relinquishing its lucrative independent status in football in the near future.

Both the Observer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the ACC has discussed scenarios involving Notre Dame, some of which included the Irish becoming an ACC member for all sports except football and the Irish playing a limited ACC football schedule.

Notre Dame is independent for football but is a member of the Big East for most of its other sports. The university also has had membership talks with the 11-member Big Ten.

A 12th ACC member appears to be a necessity if the league wants to reap the rich rewards of a football championship game, which could bring in as much as $10 million.

Earlier this week, Clemson's athletic director said the NCAA informally had rejected the league's bid to hold a title game in 2004 despite having fewer members than NCAA rules require (12). On Thursday, an NCAA panel recommended to the NCAA's management Council, that a title game be denied. The formal ruling won't come until April, but the newspaper said the ACC is resigned to the unlikelihood of a 2004 championship game.

If Notre Dame indicates that it has no interest in joining the ACC -- even with Miami and Virginia Tech as additional draws -- the league is expected to reconsider offering Boston College a spot, according to the Journal-Constitution's report. Inviting BC was rejected by a 6-3 vote in June.

Officials from the ACC and from Notre Dame refused to comment when reached by the Journal-Constitution.

Those familiar with the process told the paper the odds are strongly against the league successfully wooing the Irish, particularly with any scenario that would limit the school's football freedom.

Remaining independent in football allows Notre Dame to enjoy all of the revenue it gets from its exclusive NBC package, to the tune of $8.5 million a season. It also lets the Irish fill their schedule with schools from any conference or region.

On the other hand, the Journal-Constitution suggested that Notre Dame might be more receptive now than it was to the ACC's feelers earlier or to the Big Ten's invitation in 1999. The school's contract with NBC expires after the 2005 season, and the football team has been struggling.

The Fighting Irish are 1-2, losing to Michigan State last week and 38-0 at home to archrival Michigan earlier this month.