Louisville jumps to the ACC

So much for those future Louisville-Boise State Big East championship game matchups.

One day after the league announced that Tulane and East Carolina were becoming new members after the recent departure of Rutgers to the Big Ten, the Big East has lost the Cardinals to the ACC.

After Maryland stated its intentions to bolt to the Big Ten, it was widely assumed that UConn would be the popular replacement for the Terrapins. However, the Cardinals were able to convince the ACC that they were the best option to join the league as conference realignment continues to re-shape the college football landscape. ACC presidents and chancellors voted Wednesday morning to add Louisville, which came into the Big East in 2005, as the conference’s 14th member. The vote was unanimous.

Of course, Big East bylaws prohibit a move until 2015, but we've already seen West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse negotiate early departures.

It's a big move for Louisville, as the athletic department will be working in a more stable — for now — conference than the Big East, Improved facilities in all sports, particularly football, helped make the Cardinals a more attractive candidate. We'll see if the Cards become a member of the Atlantic or Coastal division in the ACC.

For the Big East, it's yet another blow for a league that has seen seven schools announce their departures over the past year. Its 2015 football league will now consist of Cincinnati, UConn, Temple, South Florida, Boise State, Houston, Memphis, San Diego State, SMU,  East Carolina, Tulane and Navy. And that's if no other members jump ship.

Email dave.miller@nationalfootballpost.com or follow me on Twitter at Miller_Dave