Big East Expansion: Is San Diego State's Program Stable Enough for Big East?

It's easy to look at San Diego State's 5-3 record and say they haven't missed a beat since last season. That's why their potential inclusion into the Big East, along with BYU, seems like a good move for the conference. But while I like BYU as a team that can stir up the pot, there are signs that San Diego State has taken a step back since former head coach Brady Hoke's departure.

Sure, the Aztecs still have quarterback Ryan Lindley and running back Ronnie Hillman. Those two will always be threats. But San Diego State hasn't beaten anyone of significance this season, and while they battled ranked teams to the very end last season, they got blasted by Michigan and TCU this season.

San Diego State, under Hoke, played three ranked teams in 2010: Air Force, TCU and Utah. They beat then-No. 23 Air Force 27-24, and they lost to then-No. 3 TCU and then-No. 23 Utah by a combined nine points.

So far this season, the Aztecs haven't appeared to be nearly as strong against tougher competition. That's why the possibility of them getting picked up by the Big East should have Big East fans disappointed.

Add in the fact that the Aztecs would have to travel across the country for away games, and there's the potential for them to grow more weary as the season progresses.

Right now, the Big East appears as if it would prefer MWC program Air Force. But Air Force is still undecided whether it wants to leave the MWC, and if it doesn't, then that opens up a slot for San Diego State.

Last season, I would be all for the Big East including San Diego State, but the Aztecs also had Hoke then, and he's proven throughout his career (Ball State, SDSU, Michigan) that he's one of the better head coaches in college football.

Adding San Diego State is the wrong move for the Big East.