The Enquirer and wire reports

Notre Dame is considering three options of what to do if three schools leave the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference, including possibly joining the ACC as a partial member.

If Miami, Syracuse and Boston College accept an offer to join the ACC, Notre Dame first will look to remain a member of the Big East and align with the remaining schools that play football and basketball, a source inside the athletic department told the South Bend Tribune.

The school is considering staying in the Big East with Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, even though it might require an agreement to play a partial schedule of conference football games.

The league then would add three schools.

Notre Dame also will consider becoming a member of the ACC, but only with the promise that it could play a limited number of conference football games.

The last option is a last resort - join the Big Ten. Notre Dame considered joining the Big Ten in 1999 before an official invitation was rejected.

Irish football will remain independent.