Boise State sticks with plan to join Big East in 2013
Boise State, after strongly considering remaining in the Mountain West, will continue with its plans to join the Big East as a football-only member in 2013, industry sources told CBSSports.com.
On Friday, Boise State reaffirmed to the Mountain West it was indeed moving to the Big East.
The Broncos had several recent discussions with MWC reps about staying in the Mountain West, sources told CBSSports.com. Boise State officials wanted to finalize the decision this week because they didn't want to attend the Big East's meetings, which start Sunday, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., if they weren't going to join the league.
It's still unknown where Boise State will place its Olympic sports. The most likely options are the Big West, where future football member San Diego State will place its Olympic sports, or the WAC.
Sources told CBSSports.com the Broncos were considering remaining in the Mountain West for several reasons: the uncertainty about the Big East's future membership, the difficulty of securing a home for the Broncos' Olympic sports, the elimination of the BCS AQ conferences in 2014 and also a very real concern that their revenue as a Big East member would be substantially lower than initially projected.
Even though Boise State never actually competed in the Big East, the Broncos would have had to pay a $5 million exit fee if they didn't join the Big East. Sources said the Mountain West would have considered assisting the Broncos in paying that amount if they remained in the MWC.
On Friday, Boise State reaffirmed to the Mountain West it was indeed moving to the Big East.
The Broncos had several recent discussions with MWC reps about staying in the Mountain West, sources told CBSSports.com. Boise State officials wanted to finalize the decision this week because they didn't want to attend the Big East's meetings, which start Sunday, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., if they weren't going to join the league.
It's still unknown where Boise State will place its Olympic sports. The most likely options are the Big West, where future football member San Diego State will place its Olympic sports, or the WAC.
Sources told CBSSports.com the Broncos were considering remaining in the Mountain West for several reasons: the uncertainty about the Big East's future membership, the difficulty of securing a home for the Broncos' Olympic sports, the elimination of the BCS AQ conferences in 2014 and also a very real concern that their revenue as a Big East member would be substantially lower than initially projected.
Even though Boise State never actually competed in the Big East, the Broncos would have had to pay a $5 million exit fee if they didn't join the Big East. Sources said the Mountain West would have considered assisting the Broncos in paying that amount if they remained in the MWC.
