Notre Dame is joining the Atlantic Coast Conference a season earlier than expected, following the split among the Big East's football schools and seven

Catholic schools that are leaving to form a basketball-focused conference.
The school made the announcement today, just six months after it surprised the college sports world by opting to join the ACC in all sports except football and hockey. Tuesday's move means Notre Dame will join the ACC at the same time as fellow Big East members Pittsburgh and Syracuse, which announced earlier they would join the league. Louisville is expected to join the ACC in 2014-15.