Earlier this week, the Big East Conference announced that Syracuse reached a buyout to depart for the ACC a year early. It seemed it was only a matter of time before Pittsburgh, who was set to depart the Big East with Syracuse, followed suit. Officials from the University of Pittsburgh announced that they have reached the same agreement in a press release with the Big East Wednesday evening.
The Panthers will play their final season in the Big East this season before terminating its membership effective July 1, 2013. Syracuse and Pittsburgh were originally meant to wait 27 months after announcing their intentions to switch conferences last September. They were originally expected to exit the Big East in the summer of 2014, but a $7.5 million buyout agreement changed the original plan.
Pittsburgh will begin ACC competition in the fall of 2013.
“We have appreciated and enjoyed our membership in the Big East and wish them much success in the future," Steve Pederson, Athletic Director for the University of Pittsburgh said. "We are anxious to compete in our final season in the Big East and look forward to an exciting future in the Atlantic Coast Conference.”
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