Just as quickly as the Big East lost Syracuse and Pitt to the ACC, it appears the conference will also lose TCU to the Big 12. News broke this morning that Big 12 presidents and chancellors decided to extend an invite to TCU, and all signs point to the Horned Frogs accepting that invite. The Big 12’s Board of Directors have unanimously decided (minus a non-vote from Missouri) to grant all first and second-tier TV rights to the conference, and TCU has alreadyagreed to that concept.
With TCU very likely on its way out before it ever really started, the Big East is left scrambling with six football members to try and find enough replacements to keep the conference alive.
Pete Thamel of the New York Times writes this evening that an emergency teleconference has been scheduled with presidents of the remaining football members, sources with knowledge of the situation said. Air Force, Navy, East Carolina, Temple and Central Florida have all been mentioned as possible candidates.
While the Big East is hoping to expand, the primary issue continues to be loyalty. Three members have left the conference within a matter of weeks and three more -- UConn, Rutgers and West Virginia -- have made it clear their intention is to find the best opportunity available, even if it’s not in the Big East; Louisville has also emerged as a serious candidate for the Big 12 in case Missouri decides to leave.
If Big East presidents indeed hold a teleconference tomorrow, expansion will merely be a temporary plug in what is quickly-sinking ship.