4-1-Zoo: Big East Plans On Inviting 6 Schools
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) -- Several reports state the Big East will issue formal invitiations to as many as six schools, some by the end of the week.
Programs that figure to be in the mix are Boise State, Central Florida, Houston and Southern Methodist along with Navy and Air Force.
Boise State has a board meeting today that will likely determine whether or not the Broncos will join the Big East. Of the six schools, Boise State is the biggest wildcard, as the Broncos are skeptical of joining the Big East if it can't retain its automatic-qualifier status for the BCS now that Pitt, Syracuse, TCU and West Virginia have left for other conferences.
UCF, Houston, SMU, Navy and Air Force all appear ready to accept.
Boise State, Navy and Air Force would be added as football-only members while UCF, Houston and SMU would be added to the Big East as all-sport members.
If all six schools were to accept they would join the conference in 2013. The Big East plans on holding Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia to its 27-month withdrawl period, meaning the league would have 14 football members for one season, with a possible 15 if the conference chooses to go after BYU and/or Temple.
Here's the proposed Big East conference alignment once Pitt, Syracuse and WVU leave if all six target schools join, pending the addition of a BYU or Temple:
West – Boise State, Air Force, Houston, SMU and Louisville.
East – Cincinnati, UConn, Rutgers, South Florida, UCF and Navy.
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Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com
