This is as bizarre as WVU joining the Big 12. They don't fit geographically AT ALL, and their football program is still semi-independent(but they will play 5 ACC games a year) http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d8rDZ?...dium=newsletter&utm_campaign=college-football
This is not Bizarre at all.... ND isn't joining for football, but for basketball.... The Irish still have the independent football deal with NBC and they only have to play 5 ACC schools a year... in doing so and being with the ACC I think if they win that cupcake conference with the bowl alliance and playoff sytem coming in next year... they may get the instant BCS nod.... not sure but still they are double dipping FOR SURE!!! That said, make no mistake the ACC isn't about football any longer it's about hoops..... ND didn't want to miss out on this elite power conference... The ACC now has Syracuse, Pitt, UNC, Duke, Wake and GT... that a quarter of the top 10 every year..... Also ND is a good academic school that will compliment UVA, DUKE, GT and UNC.... Further on a Lax or Soccer level this makes the ACC the kings.... UVA, Syracuse, Duke and UNC are top 10 schools in both of these sports as well..... BUT This is the ACC answer to the basketball super conference. The only way they could make this conference any stronger would be to invite Kentucky and Kansas... So in recap.... ND keeps all their football money, can schedule 5 tomatoe cans from the ACC a year and claim a strong academic conference second to maybe the Ivy League and cash in on the best basketball conference in the land now for recruiting. As a kid who grew up in the heart of an ACC town..... ND in my home conference makes me ill!!!!! So glad I was wise enough to go west for college!