Pittsburgh & Syracuse Have Applied For ACC Membership, Announcement Sunday

UPDATE (3:30 p.m.) A Big 12 source told Orangebloods.com that Pittsburgh and Syracuse will be announced as the 13th and 14th ACC members on Sunday.

UPDATE (12:30 p.m.) VUHoops corroborates our story that Villanova and the ACC has discussed membership. According to their source, Boston College AD Gene DiFilippo is in favor of bringing Villanova as well as Syracuse and Pittsburgh.

UPDATE (10:00 a.m.): A Big East official has confirmed that the two schools are "likely gone" to the ACC.

Original Post:

According to Brett McMurphy of CBSSports, both Pittsburgh and Syracuse have officially applied for membership to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This news comes on the back of last night's late-breaking rumours that Pitt and 'Cuse were in talks with the ACC. Things are definitely official now.

The Atlantic Coast Conference has received letters of application from Pittsburgh and Syracuse, a high ranking league official told CBSSports.com.

The ACC also has recently been contacted by 10 schools, the official said. However, they would not disclose what conferences those schools were from.

For what it's worth, I can guarantee that Villanova has at least had discussions with the ACC. I don't know if they're being included in that 10-school count, but they've definitely had some dialogue. That does not mean Villanova is headed there (what a dream that would be).

The ACC also unanimously voted to increase the exit fee for a member to $20 million - a move that will likely keep the conference together as is, while opening the doors for new members.

The grim reaper is standing over the Big East. Your move, Marinatto.

H/T to Big East Coast Bias