(MCT) — The Atlantic Coast Conference captured the jewel school of college realignment, but it hardly was an annexation.

Notre Dame, the school every conference coveted when expansion stormed through the college athletics landscape, announced Wednesday it was joining the ACC for all sports — except football. The Irish will play five football games against the ACC and participate in the ACC’s bowl lineup.

Notre Dame previously was a member of the Big East Conference for all sports except football and earned $5.65 million in conference revenue sharing in 2010, according to the Big East’s 2011 tax statement. The average payment to the ACC’s 12 schools that year was $12.25 million.