Conference Realignment: Pittsburgh, Syracuse Make ACC Top Conference in Nation

Earlier today, ESPN announced that sources have revealed the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University have applied to join the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Thus far, there hasn't been an enormous uproar about the news, which is actually a pretty big surprise.

The reason, likely, is because we are currently in college football mode. These changes would have little impact on both the Big East and the ACC in the world of football.

Where this realignment could make a huge dent is in the college basketball world.

We are talking about a university that was a No.1 seed and another university that was a No. 3 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

If both Syracuse and Pittsburgh do end up in the ACC, we are talking about a huge shift of power in college basketball.

The Big East will no longer be the top conference in the NCAA.

There is no question that the Big East and the ACC are the two powerhouse conferences in the college basketball world.

Behind Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Syracuse were the two next best universities in the Big East last season.

If the two leave, the Big East will still have a world of talent. Connecticut, Villanova, Notre Dame, Louisville, West Virginia, Cincinnati, St. Johns, Georgetown, West Virginia and Marquette will remain and hold the conference together.

Overall, the Big East will still have the most wide spread talent.

However, the ACC will suddenly have the top talent.

Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse and Pittsburgh are all top 10 universities. Add in Florida State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Boston College and Clemson and it's safe to say that the ACC will be the best conference in college basketball for years to come.

Right now, everything is flying under the radar. Maybe when March rolls around, people will start noticing what a big deal this realignment really is.