The Big 12 was in talks for a partial ND deal, too. ND rejected further talks with the Big 12 to sign the deal with the ACC.
Big 12 officials were caught by surprise by the ND/ACC deal
"Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and former Big 12 interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas "both had conversations" with Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick about joining the conference, including keeping the school "in the loop about the Big 12's decision to partner with the SEC on the Champions Bowl, which will begin New Year's Night 2015." The conversations "had included Notre Dame playing up to six games against Big 12 schools." A source said, "No one is going to say it publicly, but this is a bit of a surprise and a big disappointment. We thought Notre Dame would be able to pursue its own network in the Big 12 and be a great fit here."
www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Da...ges/Big-12.aspx
(and no, I don't think that ND would have accepted a partial Big Ten deal over a partial ACC deal, for a number of reasons, enmity, "regionalization", recruiting, Southeast and East Coast exposure, etc..)
My post is UConn related because it responds to the original post and the linked article about how demographics is driving the Big Ten's expansion. It wants to move south but may be blocked by the ACC's GOR. That may have implications for UConn's CR hopes.
It may be that UConn is ultimately better off, recruiting and competition wise, in the ACC. I hope it gets there.