The year was 2005 and the Big East sued the ACC for various reasons and incentives. The sides agreed on a settlement in which the Big East would receive $5 million and nine games against ACC opponents that, under normal and non-litigous corcumstances, would never schedule the Big East.

So WVU got its series with Florida State and home-and-homes were set up between North Carolina and Rutgers, Virginia and UConn and North Carolina State and Pitt. Pitt also got a home game against Miami.

Well, how’s this worked out for everyone?

The U pounded Pitt Sept. 23, 31-3 and N.C. State won at home, 38-31, against the Panthers last year (the two will play again at Pitt in 2013).

Rutgers was swept by UNC in games in 2008 (44-12) and two weeks ago (17-13).

UConn and UVa split games in 2007 (Virginia, 17-16) and 2008 (UConn, 45-10).

So it’s ACC 5, Big East 1 — total score: ACC leads 157-120 — with the Big East able to get it to 5-4 if Pitt can beat the Wolfpack and the Mountaineers can sweep the Seminoles.

There’s more, as pointed out by Jack Bogaczyk.

As for the $5 million, the four Big East members that were part of the litigation (Syracuse wasn’t, since it originally was an early ACC target before the Hokies got gubernatorial arm-twisting help) each received $1 million.

The other $1 million was split among Big East football members as part of BC’s exit fee.

The settlement has been anything but a Big East triumph, despite the $1 million each to WVU, UConn, Pitt and Rutgers.

West Virginia’s legal fees as one of four schools in the tussle totaled $2,299,658.20.

You do the math, in the financial ledgers and on the scoreboards.