Notre Dame has officially made the first step towards joining the ACC. They will join in all sports except football, in which they will play 5 ACC games each year. That means each ACC team will play ND every three years.
This can be viewed from two angles:
1. The ACC conceded to ND just like the Big East
2. This is the first step to ND joining as a full member.
I think the latter is closer to reality. The fact that ND has agreed to play 5 ACC teams each year is a big step up from the Big East deal. Eventually, ND will be forced to join a conference in football, and we now know that will be the ACC. Until that time comes, however, ND will squeeze their NBC contract for all that it's worth, and who could blame them. ACC schools also now get the benefit that Big East schools never did: extra revenue from having ND regularly on the schedule. Poplular opinion also states that ND doesn't want to give up rivalries with USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Navy, and Purdue by joining the ACC. Whether they join a conference or not, those games will go away as conferences move to 9 game schedules. There just won't be capacity for teams to schedule ND every year.
While this has a long term positive impact on the ACC, it puts yet another nail in the Big East's coffin. Everybody said "as long as ND has a home for its Olympic sports in the Big East, they won't have to join a conference in football." This makes it clear that Notre Dame had no faith in the future of the Big East even in the Olympic sports. Having been one of the strongest basketball programs in the Big East the last couple years, the ACC has now poached yet another to add to their basketball strength. This also allows the ACC to even out divisions in baseball because Syracuse does not field a team.
Overall, this move bodes well for the future of the ACC and the demise of the Big East. Eventually, Notre Dame will be part of a 16 team ACC, and the Big East will join the XFL six feet underground.
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