On September 18 , the Atlantic Coast Conference announced that Big East Conference mainstays Pittsburgh and Syracuse had been officially accepted as the conference 's 13th and 14th members . At the time , the two schools ' departure date was uncertain , as Big East bylaws require a 27-month notice period for departing members . The earliest that Pitt and Syracuse could join the ACC , barring other developments , was July 2014
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season