ESPN is reporting that Notre Dame has agreed to join the ACC, which confirms, to a certain degree, "power-conference" speculation that has been going on for months. "We're going," said Mike Brey in a text to Andy Katz.

Notre Dame haters will have plenty to gripe about, as the new agreement--like the current one with the Big East--allows Notre Dame to continue its football independent status.

The Irish follow recent Big East defectors Syracuse, Pitt, and West Virginia. When this change will begin remains to be seen, but the basketball team, probably more than the football team, will have to continue to improve if it is to compete on a consistent basis with the likes of Duke and North Carolina.

One of the more interesting parts of the agreement is that Notre Dame will play five ACC games a year in football. This part of the agreement shouldn't be too surprising, given some of Notre Dame's recent scheduling, which has included the likes of Duke, Maryland, Wake Forest, and Boston College. The Irish also have historical rivalries with both Florida State and Miami.

One can imagine that it is only a matter of time before Notre Dame football matches up against the ACC's most consistent power, Frank Beamer's Virginia Tech.

There will also be other interesting football questions, mainly who gets to stay on the schedule and who doesn't? Purdue? Michigan? Michigan State? Navy? USC? Time will tell, but Irish fans and pundits alike will be watching closely.