Big 12 Set to Take TCU

The Star-LegderRutger athletic director Tim Pernetti and president Richard McCormick could be searching for a new conference soon.

With TCU now preparing to accept an offer to join the Big 12 instead of the Big East next season, the embattled league is expected to turn to some combination of Navy, Air Force, Central Florida, Temple, Villanova and East Carolina to save the crumbling football conference.

How well that sits with Rutgers could be made public for the first time during the school’s regularly scheduled Board of Governors meeting next Wednesday.

One possible outcome of the meeting is that the Board of Governors could formally authorize Rutgers president Richard McCormick and athletic director Tim Pernetti to pursue other conference options — a necessary course of action before the school can enter into official discussions with another league. Several schools, the latest being Missouri, have had to receive that type of official clearance before going conference shopping.

Pernetti continued to decline to comment, referring all expansion questions to the Big East office. The Big East did not make a statement about TCU’s move.

But the Board of Governors’ approval would lift any legal impediments to Rutgers pursuing another conference — or to being pursued. The ACC or Big Ten are the school’s preferred landing spots.

The Big East, meanwhile, is expected to quickly target Central Florida and Temple as its first expansion candidates, according to a top college official. He requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak for the league.

TCU’s decision to abruptly switch leagues today comes just four days after school president Victor Boschini Jr. assured Big East commissioner John Marinatto at a meeting in Washington that his school was committed to joining the conference next season as planned.

TCU, expected to accept the Big 12 invitation either Thursday or early next week, will only be required to pay a $5 million exit fee to leave the Big East — a league in which it never actually competed. The school would have been subjected to the additional 27-month waiting period penalty only if it was a Big East member on July 1, 2012.

Navy and Air Force, both for football only, also remain on the Big East’s expansion radar along with East Carolina. Villanova, already a Big East member for all other sports, would have to make the jump from the FCS to the FBS level to be considered in football.

Navy faces some obstacles with TV contracts and scheduling that could prevent the academy from joining the Big East in football until 2014.

The Big 12 will be at nine with the addition of TCU if Missouri goes to the SEC (although the school does not have enough votes for acceptance, according to the Birmingham News). If Missouri goes, the Big 12 could target BYU to get to 10.

But a Big 12 official said Oklahoma favors a 12-team league, with Texas trying to hold firm at 10. If Oklahoma gets its way, Louisville and West Virginia could be Big 12 targets, he said.

Rutgers' Mohamed Sanu is dealing with extra attention Copyright 2011 NJ.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

"One possible outcome of the meeting is that the Board of Governors could formally authorize Rutgers president Richard McCormick and athletic director Tim Pernetti to pursue other conference options" Man now why didn't I think of that, I guess thats why these guys get the big bucks!

What schools are going to be interested in joining the BE right now? Even UCF, Navy, Air Force. UCF and AF are at least in stable conferences, NAVY independent has decent contracts.

Its really tough to see how poorly this has been managed. Mike Tranghese and co. did a good job during the first "BE Raid," added some good football schools and created arguably the best bb conference.