News is breaking today that the Big 12 is officially inviting WVU to join and will accept the offer, according to multiple sources. Louisville had been rumored as well, but it appears the Big 12 will stick with 10 members. What does this mean for the Big East?
It's another blow as a flagship program leaves the conference, leaving the other schools, USF, Louisville, Rutgers, UCONN, and Cincinnati as the only FBS football teams left.
Commissioner John Marinatto has been busy talking to teams such as Boise State and Air Force this week and there is speculation that formal invitations could be extended to them as well as Houston, SMU, Navy, and UCF (Board of Trustees has already given UCF power to accept an invitation if and when it finally comes). Other teams like Memphis, ECU, and Temple are among other teams that could be offered. Marinatto also met with MWC and CUSA representatives last week to discuss the super conference they are putting together (the 34 team model), so that is another possibility (unlikely it happens).
The Big East stated it will hold WVU, along with Syracuse and Pitt, to the 27-month waiting period to leave, but there is talk it could be negotiated at some point (could pay up to $21 million to leave early). There is even word that WVU could play in the Big 12 starting next season, altering the conference schedule even more for USF and others.
So for now, USF and the other teams can only sit and watch as teams leave the conference and others are invited in (could happen as soon as next Tuesday). The Big East is forever changed, whether for better or for worse, no one knows for sure yet.
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