College Football Realignment: 5 Teams the Big East Needs to Save the Conference

The conference realignment talks never stop. Well, they will once everything gets settled, but that doesn't look like it's happening anytime soon.

We all know Pittsburgh and Syracuse left the Big East to join the ACC. That now leaves seven teams in the Big East with TCU joining next year.

Recently, the conference received permission to expand to 10 teams for football and 17 for basketball. Let the recruiting begin.

Here are five teams that would be a good fit for the Big East to help the conference survive.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]

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Baylor Bears

Baylor would be a great fit, especially if the Big 12 can't get its act together. Baylor brings tradition and gives TCU a traveling partner and rivalry within the conference.

The Bears would also add some much needed competition to a watered-down conference.

Of course, the Bears wouldn't benefit much from joining the Big East and would likely end up losing money. But if the Big 12 can't come together, what other option does it have?

Boise State Broncos

Both the Broncos and the Big East need to earn some respect. What better way to come together and help each other?

Some say that this move won't happen because of distance, but the Big East is a train wreck right now and needs any team it can find. If Boise shows interest, you better believe that the Big East will be more than happy to pick it up.

Boise State often cries that it doesn't get a fair shot in the rankings. Join the Big East and it'll get an automatic BCS bid. The Big East would get another respectable team in its conference.

UCF Knights

Central Florida is the second largest school in the country by enrollment. Its football program has been getting better over the last five seasons and is always in the hunt for the C-USA championship.

Joining the Big East could also create a rivalry with South Florida. By joining the Big East, the Knights could dump a little bit more money into their program and create another possible powerhouse in the state of Florida.

That's also another reason for the conference to pick them up. UCF is in the state of Florida, so, you know the huge fanbase is there.

Villanova Wildcats

Villanova's successful basketball program is already in the Big East, so, why not have its successful football program hop on board?

This may be a last resort for the Big East since Villanova isn't really a powerhouse in football—although it is one of the top FCS programs out there.

The Wildcats will need to upgrade their facilities, but with some of that BCS money, they would be able to do so. It also wouldn't take long for them to be able to compete in the conference.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know Notre Dame wants to stay independent. But if super-conferences are formed, it may be forced to switch to the Big East.

The Irish basketball program is already in the conference.

Joining the Big East, Notre Dame would be able to receive an automatic bid to a BCS Bowl. Television networks will still throw money at the Irish. It would also strengthen Notre Dame's schedule. If conference scheduling expands and Notre Dame remains independent, the schedule will take a hit which in turn will affect recruiting as well.

The Irish aren't the team they used to be and can have much more success in the Big East.