Big East Expansion: New Additions Will Boost Competition on the Gridiron

When the Connecticut Huskies received an automatic berth into the Fiesta Bowl last season, they were scoffed at, if only for the fact they had captured the berth after playing weak competition in the Big East.

That may not be the case anymore.

On Tuesday, the Big East announced it would be extending invitations to join the conference, setting the wheels in motion to be a more competitive league.

The Big East has reportedly invited Boise State, Air Force and Navy as football-only members and Houston, SMU and UCF in all sports.

This changes the conference completely if these programs are added. We all know about Boise State's excellence throughout the years, with one loss in the last two and a half seasons, and Houston and SMU are Top 25 teams this season.

Interestingly enough, Houston and Boise State share some common ground. Houston is being looked at as another version of Boise State this season after going 8-0 but still being ranked No. 13 because of strength of schedule. Boise State joined the MWC after languishing in the WAC for years, only to find the competition not much better. The Broncos are situated at No. 5 despite a 7-0 record.

Now the Big East is hoping with its powers combined it can bring joy to everyone, potentially being the conference that launches Boise State past its strength-of-schedule woes. After all, how relieving would it be for Boise State to jump into the title game for once?

West Virginia's lawsuit notwithstanding, the Big East should have a competitive conference if these programs join the conference.

And, honestly, why wouldn't they?

An automatic BCS berth has a way of attracting a slew of programs.