Conference Realignment: How TCU's Big XII Invite Just Killed the Big East

The Big 12 has voted and announced it is inviting the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs into the bleeding conference and the Horned Frogs will likely accept leaving the Big East with just six teams and only one football power—West Virginia.  TCU will have to pay $5 Million to exit but it is unlikely they will actually play a game in the Big East next year.  

"These discussions with the Big 12 have huge implications for TCU," the statement said. "It will allow us to return to old rivalries, something our fans and others have been advocating for many years. As always, we must consider what's best for TCU and our student-athletes in this ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics. We look forward to continuing these discussions with the Big 12."

The Big East or Big Least as many have called it, has become the black sheep of the BCS conferences consistently failing to provide solid teams over the past four years. With West Virginia—and to a lesser extent, Cincinnati as the last bastions of decent football in the Big East—the addition of TCU with it's newly renovated 50,000 fan stadium and recent Rose Bowl win was a shot in the arm.  At the very least it was going to keep the Big East afloat until other teams can be convinced to join, like Notre Dame.

In all likelihood this move by TCU has shown teams like West Virginia that it is time to move on and the Mountaineers may be in a bit of trouble as they have already been rejected by the ACC and the SEC.

So there are two routes the Big East can take.  The first is to become more desperate and invite more teams including Army, Navy, Air Force or even Boise State in order to maintain numbers.  Geography knows no bounds in this situation. 

But all of these teams are very unlikely to accept. Even though Boise State is looking for AQ status, the Broncos are smart enough to see a failing system and will steer well away from the Big East. The service academies have nothing to gain, either. Even if they do gain these teams the Big East would probably lose AQ status in the coming years.

The second and more likely route leads to collapse.  If this happens you will see other conferences swoop in and grab what is left over.  The ACC will snatch up South Florida, UConn and possibly Rutgers.  West Virginia may get a second shot at the SEC or ACC but with the Big 12 looking like it is making a move to stay in business, adding West Virginia could be a major boost. Louisville is another potential candidate for the Big 12.

The Mountain West may be a possibility for the former Big East programs. In football at least.  The Mountain West has gone through its ebbs and flows in conference realignment but teams like Louisville, Cincinnati or South Florida may be left out to dry.  With the Mountain West seeking AQ status these teams may add to its claim.    

Any way you look at it this spells bad news for Big East football and may even affect basketball in the coming years.