Search the Community

The Big East is divided over whether to pursue Air Force or BYU as its 14th football member, while another option the conference is considering is creating a 16-team football league by adding Army, Air Force and BYU, industry and league sources told ESPN. On Thursday, recently hired Big East commissioner Mike Aresco reiterated in Tampa, Fla., that the conference will add a 14th football member, echoing comments that former commissioner John Marinatto made months ago that it would add another member from out West to get to 14 teams. In 2015, Navy will become the Big East's 13th football member. Whether Air Force, BYU or Army ultimately join the Big East could be determined by how much the Big East's new media rights deal, expected to be completed in the coming months, brings the league. At least one Big East source remains confident. "They'll crawl back once the TV deal is done," the source said. On Sept. 1, the Big East began a 60-day exclusive negotiating window with ESPN. If a deal isn't reached before Nov. 1, the league will negotiate with other networks such as NBC/Comcast and Fox Sports. The amount the Big East receives for its new media deal could be a huge factor in attracting BYU, Air Force or Army, sources said. Media estimates have projected the Big East's deal annually will be worth between $60 million to $130 million. Those figures would translate to between $3 million to $6.5 million for each football-only member and $4 million to $8.7 million for each full member. BYU, Air Force and Army are being sought as football-only members. Read more: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8398279/big-east-conference-divided-14th-football-member-sources-say