Maryland Reportedly Leaving ACC to Join Big Ten

The University of Maryland board of regents has voted unanimously to leave the ACC for the Big Ten, according to Brett McMurphy of ESPN.

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Maryland's board of regents unanimously approves move to Big Ten, source tells @espn

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) November 19, 2012"

ESPN is reporting that the move will take effect two years from now, in time for the 2014-15 academic year. 

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Maryland will leave ACC & join Big Ten for 2014-15 academic year, Rutgers expected to join Tues. (sources) » es.pn/TTKzoo

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 19, 2012"

The Terrapins have been in the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1953. The loss of Maryland is the third significant move for the ACC this year. 

McMurphy is also reporting that Rutgers will follow Maryland to the ACC in an announcement that will come on Tuesday. 

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Rutgers will announce move to Big Ten on Tuesday, sources told @espn

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) November 19, 2012"

UPDATE: Monday, November 19 at 2:05 p.m. ET by Ben Chodos

According to the latest news from ESPN's Brett McMurphy, Maryland's competition in the realigned Big Ten will be as follows:

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Maryland prez tells regents MD, RU in Leaders Division w/OSU, PSU, Wisconsin, Purdue & Indiana. Illinois moves to Legends

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) November 19, 2012"

The Terrapins will have to fight these schools each season for a spot in the Big Ten title game. 

---End of Update---

Syracuse and Pittsburgh are leaving the Big East after this year to join the ACC in all sports, while Notre Dame will be joining the conference in all sports except football. The Fighting Irish football team will play five games against ACC competition each year. 

This move was first reported over the weekend as a package deal with Maryland and Rutgers in talks with the Big Ten. 

According to Tom Luicci of the Newark Star-Ledger, Rutgers was waiting to see what Maryland would do before making a move. 

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Rutgers’ possible move to the Big Ten Conference remains on hold until Maryland decides — perhaps as soon as Monday — whether it wants to end a 59-year association with the Atlantic Coast Conference by moving to the Big Ten.

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One big hurdle Maryland will have to clear is the exit fee. According to Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post, the ACC requires a $50 million exit fee for a team to leave the conference. With the vote out of the way, the university can work on brokering a deal with the conference. 

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