Notre Dame to Join the ACC this summer?

According to sources close to the situation, the ACC could allow Notre Dame to join the conference this summer if the Fighting Irish can find some way to exit the Big East Conference, whom I'd imagine will expect some sort of buyout or compensation.

This doesn't come as a big surprise to anyone, as the move was expected to happen in just a year or two anyway. However, the decision was expedited when the other Catholic schools: DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova are expected to announce in the coming days they are leaving the Big East to begin their own league on July 1. 

Bear in mind, the alliance with the ACC is for all Notre Dame Fighting Irish sports, minus the football program. Still, it's a good get for the conference as it will surely boost ratings for both sides. Plus, who isn't excited about seeing the UNC, Duke, and now Miami matchups with the Irish more regularly. 

There is a caveat to the whole situation of a buyout with the Big East. The conference bylaws require Notre Dame to give them 27 months notice before leaving. The Big East members were open to letting Notre Dame walk, under the condition that they Irish agree to play Big East teams in their upcoming football season, which would be a huge booster for the others in the conference. 

But Notre Dame denied the request, so here we stand at a stalemate as to whether Notre Dame can negotiate the $10 million exit fee away or compromise somewhere else. 

That $10 million may not seem like a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, but when it's coming from your pocket, it's a large enough number to not feel very good. 

So tough times for the Big East as they're losing not only Notre Dame, but Rutgers and Louisville in the coming years. It'll be interesting to see where the conference is looking to generate buzz again in the next few years.