Big East Conference Expansion and Realignment Proposal

Let me start off by saying I am in no way, shape or form, for or against anything Big East. I’m not a huge college basketball fan, so this is solely a football discussion. I have lived all my life in the Southwest US and my football team loyalty resides in Texas. I am also not a fan of the Super conference and would be happy with all BCS AQ conferences getting back to 12 teams…  All of them. This should be a mandated requirement, regardless of whether we keep the current BCS process or move to a playoff… Whether the Big East expands or dissolves is neither here or there for me, but in the interest of NO super conferences and for them to attempt to keep AQ status for the Big East, here we go…

Let’s talk Big East football. If the conference is to remain viable, and if this conference is to take on more members to do so WEST of the Mississippi River, then they need to do this right. This is not only for the sake of the conference, or for television rights and royalties, but for the sake of travel arrangements for the players and the fans that pay to support them. It’s hard to get pumped up with a conference rivalry when you’re Boise State or Air Force playing teams in Florida, Connecticut and Jersey. Honestly, are your fellow classmates, friends and family really going to be able to make the cross country trip? Not really. But it’s OK if once in a while they play across country on National Television. That is encouraged. So let’s shape things ups

Currently we have the remaining schools

Rutgers

Louisville

Cincinnati

UConn

USF

Pitt and Syracuse jumped ship to a now 14 team ACC (Don’t think they won’t try to get to 16). West Virginia bolted with future/former member TCU to the ailing Big 12. And “the best conference out there” SEC is also sitting at 14 teams now with the additions of Ex-Big 12’ers Texas A&M and Missouri. All signs point to expansion in college football’s future. Big East and Big 12 need help. Fast. Big 12 is having a spectacular season football wise, with plenty of top 25 teams and being in the National Title picture the majority of the year, even though they were facing a similar fate as the Big East. They are simply a better position.

So, what about the Big East? Currently no team is in the Top 25, and there could be a 5 way tie for the title… The only headlines they make are losing teams and possible declines of invites…

What to do? What about approaching multiple Western teams together? Adding 6 Western US schools together may help alleviate any trepidation due to travel or lack of rivals and encourage them to join and not decline due to the blueprints not being complete. That being said...

The NEW Big East
Western	Eastern
Air Force	Rutgers
BYU	Louisville
Boise State	Cincinnati
Houston	UConn
SMU	USF
(WILD CARD)	Navy

The Western US teams make a bit more sense when coupled up. And although there was some talk of Memphis, UCF and Temple, adding another Western US team instead may be better suited. Maybe schools like Nevada, San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State, Colorado State or Even Tulane or Louisiana Tech could help fill in missing spots. Another Texas school could even be feasible.

I know some of the schools I mentioned may not be the most competitive in football every year, but they are in solid markets that could be tapped, and have rivalries that get them on National television from time to time. Their addition to the Big East could ensure the “bigger” schools schedule them year over year, giving them a punchers chance.

Let’s look at the candidates. First we look at the already rumored together. Air Force, BYU, Boise State, Houston and SMU all have pinned to an invite. If they all join together, on one condition, it would be to add another Western US school, get the conference to 12, with 2 divisions and a championship game.

Boise State is in the Top 10 almost yearly and makes the most sense from a competition standpoint, but it’s in Idaho. BYU and Houston are Top 25 frequenters and add schools closer to Boise for travel. SMU, Air Force and Navy bring good rivalries and big markets with them (DFW/Texas and the US Armed Forces). All would make sense and keep the Big East competitive, if done so together. SMU brings a rival for Houston, Air Force for BYU and Boise. Navy helps with Air Force and beefs up the Eastern Division to 6. So here are the other Western Division candidates.

Nevada – They have been flirting with the Top 25 every year, constantly put up a solid squad, and bring an untapped small TV market in. They are strategically close to Utah, Colorado and Idaho as well so to help with scheduling. Natural rivalries with the other Western schools make sense, as they have been playing Boise regularly.

San Diego State – California for one is one of the top 5 states for recruiting. Exposure to that is always a plus. They have been solid as of late as well and also bring a western presence for the other 5 teams. Good size TV Market doesn’t hurt. Western Rivals can easily develop.

Fresno State – They are also always flirting with the top 25, have been in the headlines for playing big teams in big games over the years, and bring California into play as well. Good size TV market. Western Rivals can easily develop.

Utah State – Rivalries with Pac 12 foe Utah, now conference foe BYU and proximity to the other Western schools really have it going for them. They have not been consistently good but they make for good TV and can put up points. They would benefit from exposure and a better conference, thus benefiting the conference in the long run.

Colorado State – Rivalries with conference foe Air Force, Pac 12 school Colorado and the proximity to the other schools makes them viable also. Colorado Springs is pretty close to Denver which will add a good recruiting and TV Market.

Tulane and Louisiana Tech – Bringing in a Louisiana school may help these schools with annually scheduling SEC teams like regional rivalries with the likes of LSU, thus adding exposure to the conference. Even if they are smaller, showing up anywhere in the south should help the Big East altogether, especially if they can be competitive against SEC schools. They aren’t as close as the other schools I have mentioned to the remaining western schools, but they are still way closer.

Any other Texas School – Who’s left… UTEP, North Texas, and Rice are. Not as strong as the candidates mentioned before, but will be a good option if needed. UTEP and Rice bring Rivals in for SMU and Houston. North Texas could help strengthen the footprint in DFW if needed, and another game in Texas for all Big East schools will definitely help recruiting.

Above all else, Big East needs to add to survive in the event of needing to scramble for other Western Schools, take a look at the candidates mentioned and add any combination of 6. Get all the way to 12 by pitching to all schools in question can help. In the event a highly sought TV market school gets taken like Rutgers for example or Navy declines, then look for Memphis, UCF and Temple then, but try to add western schools TOGETHER first. Don’t waste your money and time trying to keep schools that are leaving, get new schools in quickly, do your best to keep AQ status, and get to playing good football.

Get 6 Western schools, shore up 1 more for the east, in any combination (with Boise State and BYU in mind), and fast.