SOUTH BEND, IND. -- Notre Dame is leaving the Big East for Tobacco Road as the Irish join the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The conference says Notre Dame will be a member in all sports, except football.

Even so, the Irish will schedule 5 ACC football teams per year.

Notre Dame joined the Big East in 1995, but kept its football program independent.

Because of a clause in its Big East contract though, the school has to give the Big East a 27-month notice before leaving the conference.

NBC's contract  to televise Irish football runs through 2015.