As we have reported for over a month the Big East has made a move keep their BCS status and to set the stage for a new $1 billion dollar multiyear television deal.
Central Florida, SMU and Houston have been invited to be full members of the conference while Boise State, Air Force and Navy will be football only members.
The announcements could come as soon as Friday and thus concludes phase one of the Big East expansion. With the addition of the six new schools to UConn, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers and South Florida that will give the conference 11 members in 2014 which is the projected date that Pitt and Syracuse are headed to the ACC while West Virginia goes to the Big 12.
In the 2013 season the Big East is set to have 14 teams and will likely host a Championship Game in New York if all goes as planned.
For now do not expect the Big East to add anyone else at least till sometime next year. Unless someone else bolts…..
Now to address the many questions as to where does the conference go after Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia are gone. They want to have at least 12 teams but if the 14 team format works they may choose to go that route matching the ACC.
OK now to who would be the 12th and or the 13th and 14th teams in the Big East’s future? Well at the moment there are more than a few very good options.
BYU is a strong contender they like Navy, Army and Notre Dame are independents in football setting their own schedule and playing all over the country. However, only Notre Dame enjoys an automatic BCS bid among the “Indies.” So BYU COULD find joining the Big East with an automatic BCS bid in a football only capacity attractive. Plus they could still recruit nationally and would have plenty of national telecasts to advance their brand.
Boise State would like to see them join and the Big East is interested…. what is not known is where BYU stands on joining. They are for the moment listening but silent- there will no doubt be a wait and see process with both sides keeping the lines of communications open.
What about Temple?
Well for now the Villanova block is holding strong and since they have the Philadelphia market in the Big East – Temple remains an option but there will have to be some “Brotherly love” from Nova. Winning the MAC title and picking up a few big non conference victories like the win over Maryland would keep the pressure on to add the Owls .
Next up is East Carolina and they really want to be in the Big East. No school that has put together a more compelling argument to join the conference than have the Pirates. What do they have to do to get in? Well keep up the fan support but in the end winning and making it into the top 25 like Houston would go a long way.
Army and Memphis are also mentioned both might be long shots. Army could get in but they like the independent route and Memphis football does not seem make the grade.
The remaining five schools UConn, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers and South Florida all have to step up their game. Having Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia winning the Big East title and getting the BCS Bowl bid will not help the conference.
Big East football titles have to be won by “the gang of five” to help the overall perception of the conference.
