Syracuse will officially leave the Big East in July 2013

Syracuse will officially become the newest member of the ACC a year from now. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Despite agreeing to the join the Atlantic Coast Conference along with Pittsburgh last fall, Syracuse University did not know how long it would have to wait before officially leaving the Big East and going to the ACC.

In a release Monday, the Big East announced it had reached an agreement with Syraucse that will allow the school to leave the conference on July 1, 2013, and join the ACC. The school will also have to pay a $7.5 million buyout.

“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," Syraucse athletic director Daryl Gross said.

When Syarcuse and Pittsburgh leave the conference, they will be the fourth and fifth schools to leave the Big East for the ACC since 2004.

Pitt currently has a lawsuit against the Big East, but ESPN's Andy Katz reports the Panthers should join the ACC at the same time as the Orange.

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