This caused a major break in the rivalry 's yearly schedule and forced both schools to plan future matchups between the will of their athletic departments .
However , in 2004 , Virginia Tech officially left the former Big East Conference and joined the Atlantic Coast Conference .
This caused a major break in the rivalry 's yearly schedule and forced both schools to plan future matchups between the will of Virginia Tech 's athletic departments .
However , in 2004 , Virginia Tech officially left the former Big East Conference and joined the Atlantic Coast Conference .