On September 12 , 2012 , during the football program 's 125th season , Notre Dame announced that it would leave the Big East Conference for the Atlantic Coast Conference ( ACC ) , excluding the football and hockey programs . This move became official on July 1 , 2013 , in time for the fall sports to compete within the ACC conference . While the Fighting Irish football team will remain an FBS independent , it has agreed to play five games per season against ACC teams starting with the 2014 football season , as the schedule allows . In return , Notre Dame will become eligible to participate in the ACC 's sub-BCS level bowl arrangements
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football