Big East, Syracuse manage to quietly agree on terms for ACC departure

West Virginia sued its way into the Big 12 earlier than officially allowed by the Big East. The Pitt Panthers did the same in May in an attempt to leave for the ACC in 2013.

Today, Syracuse has found a way to come to terms with the Big East on their departure quietly and amicably.

In a joint release Monday morning, the two sides announced an agreement allowing Syracuse to depart for the ACC on July 1, 2013. As part of the agreement, the Orange will pay the Big East $7.5 million under the old bylaws for exiting the conference. Those terms mandate that departing schools pay $5 million. That amount has since increased to $10 million.

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

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

It seems that the next step is for Pittsburgh to do something similar to that of Syracuse. If successful, Syracuse and Pittsburgh will be joining the ACC during the 2013 season.