Syracuse reached an agreement to leave the Big East conference and join the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013, according to an SU press release Monday.

“We look forward to the new academic and athletic partnerships and the extraordinary competitive opportunities that membership in the ACC offers,” SU athletic director Daryl Gross said in the release. “We are excited about both our final season in the Big East and our long-term future with the ACC.”

The Big East members will vote to end Syracuse’s membership in the conference effective July 1, 2013, according to the release. SU will also pay the Big East $7.5 million in addition to other consideration.

The agreement announced Monday allows SU to exit the conference one year early. SU was previously set to move to the ACC in 2014 due to a 27-month notice required before leaving the Big East.

“Syracuse will be an outstanding addition to the ACC,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. “We’ve been preparing to welcome them into our membership and I’m pleased that Syracuse and the Big East were able to come to an agreement.

“As a league, we continue to be excited about our future.”

Syracuse announced its departure from the conference last September, leaving for the ACC with Pittsburgh to become its 13th and 14th conference members. Texas Christian and West Virginia also decided to exit the conference for the Big 12 last fall.

West Virginia sued the Big East and reached a settlement with the conference in February, in which WVU paid the Big East $20 million and the conference permitted the school to join the Big 12 in 2012.

Pittsburgh filed a lawsuit against the Big East in May, hoping to exit the Big East for the ACC in 2013 and claiming the conference no longer had the right to hold the school to the 27-month waiting period after allowing WVU to leave early.

Gross said in May that SU wanted to avoid litigation, but the school was keeping its options open. Pittsburgh’s future with the Big East is still unresolved.

Facing an uncertain future as a Bowl Championship Series conference, the Big East added eight schools from across the nation and branded itself as the first conference to stretch from coast-to-coast.

Boise State, San Diego State and Navy joined as football-only members, while Southern Methodist, Central Florida, Houston, Memphis and Temple also became members of the conference. Temple replaced West Virginia and will compete in football in the Big East this season.

“This closes a chapter and opens a new one filled with exciting possibilities for the Big East’s future,” said Joe Bailey, interim commissioner of the Big East. “With the recent addition of eight schools to the Big East, the future for the conference has never been brighter.”

Published on July 16, 2012 at 1:55 pm

Contact Ryne: rjgery@syr.edu