Power Ranking ACC Teams We're Looking Forward to Seeing Notre Dame Play

Guess what?

Notre Dame has joined a conference!

Well, not really.

Notre Dame will become a full member of the ACC with the exception of football. And while the football side of things will remain independent, this does mean that the Irish will end up playing five ACC teams a year, as Brett McMurphy of ESPN said.

"

Notre Dame will join ACC as full member w/exception of football. ND will play 5 football games annually vs. ACC, sources told @espn

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) September 12, 2012"

The ACC has recently confirmed this as well.

So with the football schedule of the Irish expected to change in the next couple of years, let's take a look at some of the teams that we can't wait to see Notre Dame play in the ACC.

Rest of the Pack

6. North Carolina State Wolfpack

7. North Carolina Tar Heels

8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

9. Pittsburgh Panthers

10. Boston College Eagles

11. Wake Forest Demon Decons

12. Syracuse Orange

13. Duke Blue Devils

14. Maryland Terrapins

5. Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia has not won an ACC title since 1995, but the Cavaliers are getting there. In the last two seasons under head coach Mike London, this is a program that has knocked off ranked teams, such as Georgia Tech and Florida State, and recently beat a favored Penn State this year.

The Cavaliers still have a ways to go before they are considered true contenders in this conference, but by the time Notre Dame is ready to schedule them, this is a program that will turn even more heads than they are now.

4. Clemson Tigers

These two programs have only met two times, with both games taken place in the '70s, and both meetings were decided by less than a touchdown. And although Clemson has struggled to get this program over the top, Dabo Swinney only needed four seasons to give the Tigers some national attention.

Last season, Clemson won its first conference championship since 1991, and appears to be only a year or two from competing for its second national championship in school history. Like many teams in the ACC, the Tigers are certainly on the rise and are a team that everyone should be paying close attention to.

3. Virginia Tech Hokies

Notre Dame has never had the privilege of playing the Virginia Tech Hokies. Of all the history between both programs, the Irish have been lucky enough to avoid Lane Stadium at all costs. That may not be the case any longer.

Since 2004, Virginia Tech has won four ACC titles and makes things difficult for every other team trying to win one. Head coach Frank Beamer puts one of the toughest teams out on the field year in and year out, which is probably why he has reached 19 consecutive bowl games in Blacksburg.

Regardless of what happens, the Hokies will remain one of the more competitive teams outside the SEC.

2. Miami Hurricanes

You are telling me that the "Catholics vs. Convicts" rivalry can become more permanent with this move?

Sign me up.

Look, I know neither one of these teams are as respected as they once were, but it is really only a matter of time before they are back on top. Notre Dame already seems to be taking the proper steps to get back into the spotlight, while Miami will be back once the scandal is all figured out.

This matchup isn't that appealing right now, but just wait when both schools get back on their feet again.

1. Florida State Seminoles

With the way Florida State is recruiting, I think it is safe to say that the Seminoles are once again the top dog in this conference. There is no better way for the Irish to prove themselves to the rest of the college football world than to take on the big boys.

We have given Florida State a ton of hype each and every season and they have let us down over the years. But when you are recruiting the way they have the last couple of years under head coach Jimbo Fisher, there is no way this team does not begin competing for championships sooner than later.

These teams have only met six times, but five of those contests have been decided by 10 points or less.