Editing Big East Conference (1979–2013) (section)

==History==
[[File:BigEastLocations3.png|thumb|right|300px|Locations of the Big East Conference full member institutions for the conference's final academic year (2012–13)]]

===Founding: the early years===
The Big East, often referred to as the Classic Big East, was founded in 1979 after new NCAA basketball scheduling requirements caused the athletic directors of [[NCAA Division I independent schools (basketball)|independent]] schools [[Providence Friars|Providence]], [[St. John's Red Storm|St. John's]], [[Georgetown Hoyas|Georgetown]], and [[Syracuse Orange|Syracuse]] to discuss the creation of a conference centered in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]].<ref name=Crouthamel>{{cite web|url=http://www.suathletics.com/sports/2001/8/8/history.aspx|title=A Big East History and Retrospective, Part 1|last=Crouthamel|first=Jake|date=December 8, 2000|publisher=SUAthletics.com|access-date=October 26, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513221837/http://www.suathletics.com/sports/2001/8/8/history.aspx|archive-date=May 13, 2010}}</ref> Other schools invited were [[Seton Hall Pirates|Seton Hall]], [[Connecticut Huskies|Connecticut]], [[Holy Cross Crusaders|Holy Cross]], [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights|Rutgers]], and [[Boston College Eagles|Boston College]], with Rutgers and Holy Cross declining to join.<ref name=Crouthamel/> [[Villanova Wildcats|Villanova]] joined a year later in 1980<ref>{{cite news |title=Big East, Villanova Make It Official |agency=United Press International |date=March 13, 1980 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xBshAAAAIBAJ&pg=4471,6402629&dq=big-east-conference+villanova&hl=en }}</ref> and [[Pittsburgh Panthers|Pittsburgh]] joined in 1982.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pittsburgh To Join Big East |first= Richard F |last=Hanley |work=Record-Journal |date=November 19, 1981 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=schHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4292,2306993&dq=big-east-conference+football&hl=en }}</ref> Before the formation of the conference, many of these schools participated in the [[ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments|ECAC men's basketball tournament]] in order to receive an automatic bid for the [[NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship]].

In 1982, [[Penn State Nittany Lions|Penn State]] applied for membership, but was rejected, with only five schools in favor (Penn State needed six out of eight). It was long rumored that Syracuse cast the deciding vote against Penn State, but [[Mike Tranghese]] confirmed that this was not the case and that Syracuse had, in fact, voted for Penn State's inclusion.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/quad-qa-big-east-commissioner-mike-tranghese/ | title=Quad Q&A: Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese | work=[[The New York Times]] | first=Pete | last=Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel | date=March 9, 2009 | access-date=April 26, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809095742/http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/quad-qa-big-east-commissioner-mike-tranghese/ | archive-date=August 9, 2010 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>  Penn State would loom large over the conference during future rounds of realignment as the Nittany Lions had the potential to shore up the conference once football members began to join.  Following the decisions by Georgetown, St. John's, and fellow Pennsylvania school Villanova to vote against Penn State's admission, then-Big Ten administrator and future-Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said the conference would "rue the day" they rejected the Nittany Lions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/sports/ncaabasketball/big-east-pays-the-price-for-not-embracing-football.html|title=Big East Pays the Price for Not Embracing Football|first=William C.|last=Rhoden|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 4, 2012|access-date=May 8, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214021732/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/sports/ncaabasketball/big-east-pays-the-price-for-not-embracing-football.html|archive-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref>

===Football expansion===
About a decade after the conference's inception, Big East members decided to become a major football conference and thus added five schools including Rutgers, [[Miami Hurricanes|Miami]], [[Temple Owls|Temple]], [[Virginia Tech Hokies|Virginia Tech]], and [[West Virginia Mountaineers|West Virginia]] – though only Miami would be offered full all-sports membership immediately. The inaugural Big East football season launched in 1991.<ref>{{cite web 
 |title=Big East Football Timeline 
 |publisher=Philly.com 
 |date=March 8, 2008 |url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-08/sports/31136038_1_big-east-football-football-only-member-football-schools 
 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730175652/http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-08/sports/31136038_1_big-east-football-football-only-member-football-schools
 |archive-date=July 30, 2013
|url-status=dead
  
 }}
</ref> West Virginia and Rutgers were offered admission to the Big East as full members starting in the 1995–96 academic year,<ref name=NYT-1994-03-10>{{cite news|last=Moran|first=Malcolm|title=Rutgers and West Virginia Are Invited to Join Big East|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/10/sports/basketball-rutgers-and-west-virginia-are-invited-to-join-big-east.html?pagewanted=1|access-date=October 26, 2011|newspaper=New York Times|date=March 10, 1994|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005022035/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/10/sports/basketball-rutgers-and-west-virginia-are-invited-to-join-big-east.html?pagewanted=1|archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref> and [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish|Notre Dame]], committed to its football independence, was offered a non-football membership effective the same year.<ref name=NYT-1994-07-12>{{cite news|last=Moran|first=Malcolm|title=Notre Dame Joins the Big East|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/12/sports/colleges-notre-dame-joins-the-big-east.html|access-date=October 26, 2011|newspaper=New York Times|date=July 12, 1994|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004225802/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/12/sports/colleges-notre-dame-joins-the-big-east.html|archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref>  Virginia Tech would be forced to wait until 2000–01 for full admission,<ref name="hokies-conference">{{cite web|title=Conference Affiliation History|url=http://www.hokiesports.com/conference.html|work=hokiesports.com|publisher=Virginia Tech|access-date=October 26, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102045150/http://www.hokiesports.com/conference.html|archive-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref> and Temple remained a football-only member until 2004, when it was voted out of the conference due to poor attendance figures, lack of playing success, and inadequate facilities.<ref>{{cite news |title=Temple Expects Better Results in Big East Sequel |date=August 17, 2012 |url=http://nytimes.stats.com/cfb/story.asp?i=20120817173242625024008 |access-date=November 18, 2012 |last=Gelston |first=Dan |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005004625/http://nytimes.stats.com/cfb/story.asp?i=20120817173242625024008 |archive-date=October 5, 2013  }}</ref>

===Turmoil and realignment===
{{See also|2005 NCAA conference realignment}}

Some have argued that the unusual structure of the Big East, with the "football" and "non-football" schools, led to instability in the conference. In 2003, the ongoing press reports of tensions between the football schools and the basketball-only schools finally exploded into a months-long public tug-of-war between the Big East and the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] over several Big East members. The result was that three Big East schools—Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College—moved to the ACC, while five schools moved to the Big East from [[Conference USA]]—[[Louisville Cardinals|Louisville]], [[Cincinnati Bearcats|Cincinnati]], [[South Florida Bulls|South Florida]], [[Marquette Golden Eagles|Marquette]], and [[DePaul Blue Demons|DePaul]].

The addition of the three football schools, along with Big East non-football member Connecticut moving up to the Big East football conference, ensured that the league would keep the minimum eight teams needed to keep its BCS bid. In addition, two traditional basketball teams, DePaul and Marquette, were added to gain the Chicago and [[Milwaukee]] television markets and help the already solid basketball status of the conference.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

Meanwhile, [[Loyola University Maryland]] (then Loyola College in Maryland) also joined the Big East as an associate member in [[women's lacrosse]] for the 2005–06 academic year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.laxpower.com/laxnews/news.php?story=228 |title=Loyola Joins the Big East as an Associate Member in WLax |publisher=LaxPower |date=January 5, 2005 |access-date=October 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407124759/http://www.laxpower.com/laxnews/news.php?story=228 |archive-date=April 7, 2012  }}</ref>

===Continued instability===
{{Main|2010–13 Big East Conference realignment}}
{{See also|2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment}}
In 2010, [[Texas Christian University]] accepted an invitation to join the conference as an all-sports member beginning in the 2012–13 academic year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bet.com/article/ig1b1q/ap-source-tcu-going-to-big-east-conference|title=AP source: TCU going to Big East Conference|agency=Associated Press|publisher=BET.com|date=November 29, 2010|access-date=September 20, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105052322/http://www.bet.com/news/sports/tcubigeastconference.html|archive-date=January 5, 2015}}</ref> Big East schools compete in Division I. Most of the football-playing schools play in Division I FBS, while Georgetown and Villanova have Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) football programs. Georgetown football competes in the [[Patriot League]]. Villanova has competed in the [[Colonial Athletic Association]] football conference since 1988, dating back to its time as a completely separate conference known as the [[Yankee Conference]], which merged with the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]] in 1997, then in 2007 the CAA took over management of the A-10 football conference (which happened after [[Northeastern University]] joined the CAA in 2005, giving them the six football-playing members needed to start sponsoring football, which was eventually dropped by Northeastern after 2009). In September 2010, in the wake of a [[2010–13 NCAA conference realignment|Division I realignment]] that affected a number of conferences around the country, the Big East asked Villanova to consider becoming a football member. The school once considered the offer, which required the school to substantially expand its football budget, as well as expand [[Villanova Stadium|its stadium]] to meet FBS requirements or find another suitable venue in the [[Delaware Valley|Philadelphia area]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=5553575 |title=Villanova considering Big East invitation |publisher=ESPN  |date=September 10, 2010 |access-date=September 11, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100913010809/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5553575| archive-date= September 13, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Villanova presented a plan to the Big East football members on April 10, 2011, which included the use of [[PPL Park]] as a football stadium, but the league declined to schedule a vote to offer membership on the objections of Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Rutgers to the plan. On September 17, 2011, Syracuse, a charter member of the conference, and Pittsburgh announced that they would be leaving the Big East for the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/sports/big-east-exit-is-said-to-begin-for-syracuse-and-pittsburgh.html | date=September 17, 2011 | work=The New York Times | first=Pete | last=Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel | title=If Syracuse and Pitt Move On, Things Could Get Interesting | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923234312/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/sports/big-east-exit-is-said-to-begin-for-syracuse-and-pittsburgh.html?_r=1 | archive-date=September 23, 2011 | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2011-09-19/pittsburgh-syracuse-big-east-move-to-acc-conference-realignment-john-swofford |title=Report: Big East will hold Syracuse, Pittsburgh to 27-month notice |work=[[Sporting News]] |date=September 20, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110921083846/http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2011-09-19/pittsburgh-syracuse-big-east-move-to-acc-conference-realignment-john-swofford |archive-date=September 21, 2011  }}</ref> Both schools originally intended to fulfill their commitment to the 27-month waiting period.  TCU also reversed its decision and accepted an invitation from the [[Big 12 Conference]] to move there.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/id/7085749/big-12-vote-unanimous-allow-tcu-horned-frogs-2012-13|title=TCU joins Big 12 for 2012–13|publisher=ESPN|date=October 10, 2011|access-date=October 10, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012010708/http://espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/id/7085749/big-12-vote-unanimous-allow-tcu-horned-frogs-2012-13|archive-date=October 12, 2011}}</ref><ref name="TCUBig12">{{cite news|url=http://gofrogs.cstv.com/genrel/101011aad.html|title=TCU Accepts Invitation To Join Big 12 Conference|publisher=[[TCU Horned Frogs|TCU Athletic Department]]|date=October 10, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012192118/http://gofrogs.cstv.com/genrel/101011aad.html|archive-date=October 12, 2011|access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

On October 28, 2011, it was announced by the Big 12 Conference that West Virginia accepted its invitation to join, with membership beginning in 2012. This timeline was challenged by the Big East, and countersuits were launched by the school and conference.  Eventually, a settlement was reached with allowed West Virginia's departure for 2012 in exchange for sizable compensation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=106181&SPID=13139&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205379627&DB_OEM_ID=10410 |title=2012 Football Schedule Announced – Big 12 Conference |publisher=Big12sports.com |date=May 14, 2012 |access-date=July 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503001614/http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=106181&SPID=13139&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=205379627 |archive-date=May 3, 2012  }}</ref> Syracuse and Pittsburgh then used the acquiescence of the Big East to West Virginia's departure to challenge the validity of their own commitment, and the Big East agreed to a settlement with both schools in July 2012 to allow their departure for the 2013 academic year.<ref name=SyracuseDeparture>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/235666/BIG-EAST,-Syracuse-University-Reach-Agreement-on-Syracuse-Departure-From-the-BIG-EAST.aspx |title=BIG EAST, Syracuse University Reach Agreement on Syracuse Departure From the BIG EAST |publisher=The BIG EAST Conference |access-date=July 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716174448/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/235666/BIG-EAST,-Syracuse-University-Reach-Agreement-on-Syracuse-Departure-From-the-BIG-EAST.aspx |archive-date=July 16, 2012  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/235709/BIG-EAST-Conference,-University-of-Pittsburgh-Reach-Agreement-on-Pittsburgh-Departure-From-The-BIG-EAST.aspx |title=BIG EAST Conference, University of Pittsburgh Reach Agreement on Pittsburgh Departure From The BIG EAST > The BIG EAST Conference > News |access-date=July 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523081820/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/235709/BIG-EAST-Conference,-University-of-Pittsburgh-Reach-Agreement-on-Pittsburgh-Departure-From-The-BIG-EAST.aspx |archive-date=May 23, 2013  }}</ref>

In December, after the 2011 football regular season was completed announcements were made that [[Boise State University]] and [[San Diego State University]], both of the [[Mountain West Conference]], would join the Big East in football only; and that Conference USA members [[University of Central Florida]], [[Southern Methodist University]], and the [[University of Houston]] would join in all sports for the 2013 academic year.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/12/06/big-east-expansion.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a4&eref=sihp | work=CNN | title=Source: Big East set to add Boise State, four others in 2013 | date=December 6, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116014442/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/12/06/big-east-expansion.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a4&eref=sihp | archive-date=January 16, 2012 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

On January 24, 2012, the [[United States Naval Academy|Navy Midshipmen]] accepted an invitation to join the Big East for football only starting in 2015.

On February 9, 2012, the Big East invited the [[University of Memphis]] to join as a full member in all sports to begin play in 2013.

On March 7, 2012, it was announced that [[Temple Owls football|Temple University]] would return to the conference for football in the 2012 season, filling the void left by West Virginia. Temple would join for all sports in 2013. [[Temple Owls men's basketball|Temple basketball]] would move over from the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]], where they have been a perennial powerhouse.

On August 29, 2012, Loyola and the [[Patriot League]] announced that all Loyola athletic teams, including the school's Big East team in women's lacrosse, would join that conference on July 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.patriotleague.org/genrel/082912aaa.html |title=Loyola University Maryland accepts invitation to join Patriot League starting with 2013–14 season |publisher=Patriot League |date=August 29, 2012 |access-date=August 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830114515/http://www.patriotleague.org/genrel/082912aaa.html |archive-date=August 30, 2012  }}</ref>

On September 12, 2012, Notre Dame announced it would follow Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the ACC, joining that league in all sports except football. Notre Dame and the Big East reached agreement on March 13, 2013; the exit took place July 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9042949/notre-dame-big-east-agree-irish-exit-2-years-early-join-acc |title=Notre Dame/Big East agree on Irish exit |work=ESPN.com |date=March 12, 2013 |access-date=March 13, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312211826/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9042949/notre-dame-big-east-agree-irish-exit-2-years-early-join-acc |archive-date=March 12, 2013  }}</ref>

On November 20, 2012, Rutgers announced it would be leaving the Big East to join the [[Big Ten Conference]] as a full member, effective with the start of the 2014–15 academic year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/rutgers-announces-move-to-big-ten-112012 |title=Rutgers announces move to Big Ten – College Football News &#124; FOX Sports on MSN |publisher=Msn.foxsports.com |date=November 20, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121125050/http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/rutgers-announces-move-to-big-ten-112012 |archive-date=January 21, 2013  }}</ref>  Rutgers' announcement came one day after the [[University of Maryland]] departed the ACC to join the Big Ten.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/story/_/id/8651934/maryland-terrapins-join-big-ten-rutgers-scarlet-knights-join-well-sources-say |title=Maryland Terrapins to join Big Ten; Rutgers Scarlet Knights to join as well, sources say – ESPN Chicago |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=November 20, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102210026/http://espn.go.com/chicago/story/_/id/8651934/maryland-terrapins-join-big-ten-rutgers-scarlet-knights-join-well-sources-say |archive-date=January 2, 2013  }}</ref>  One week later, on November 27, [[Tulane University]] accepted the Big East's invitation to join as an all-sports member. [[East Carolina University]]'s football program also joined the Big East in 2014; both schools were previously with Conference USA.<ref name=NOLA-2012-11-27>{{cite news|last=Roach|first=John|title=Tulane agrees to join the Big East, starting in July 2014.|url=http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/11/tulane_agrees_to_join_the_big.html|access-date=November 27, 2012|newspaper=New Orleans Times-Picayune|date=November 27, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727185419/http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/11/tulane_agrees_to_join_the_big.html|archive-date=July 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NOLA-2012-11-27b>{{cite news|title=Big East grabs ECU football.|url=http://www.reflector.com/sports/ecu/big-east-grabs-ecu-football-1435445|access-date=November 27, 2012|newspaper=The Daily Reflector|location=Greenville, North Carolina|date=November 27, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130004539/http://www.reflector.com/sports/ecu/big-east-grabs-ecu-football-1435445|archive-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref>  The following day the ACC voted to invite Louisville to join in 2014, making them the seventh school since 2004 to leave the Big East in favor of the ACC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8685541/acc-votes-add-louisville-cardinals-source-says|title=Source: ACC adds Louisville|last=McMurphy|first=Brett|date=November 28, 2012|access-date=November 28, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128143050/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8685541/acc-votes-add-louisville-cardinals-source-says|archive-date=November 28, 2012}}</ref> On March 27, 2013, East Carolina's future membership in the renamed conference was officially upgraded to all-sports membership.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/243382/East-Carolina-Joins-Soon-To-Be-Renamed-BIG-EAST-in-All-Sports-for-2014-15-Academic-Year.aspx |title=East Carolina Joins Soon-To-Be-Renamed BIG EAST in All Sports for 2014–15 Academic Year |publisher=Big East Conference |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=March 27, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510154608/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/243382/East-Carolina-Joins-Soon-To-Be-Renamed-BIG-EAST-in-All-Sports-for-2014-15-Academic-Year.aspx |archive-date=May 10, 2013  }}</ref>

===Conference split===

====New Big East====
{{Main|Big East Conference|American Athletic Conference}}

Less than two weeks after Louisville announced its departure for the ACC, multiple media reports indicated that the Big East's seven remaining non-FBS schools, all Catholic institutions, were considering a mass exit from the conference.<ref name="Blaudschun 2012-10-10">{{cite news|url=http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=4188 |title=Big East Catholic schools breaking away? |first=Mark |last=Blaudschun |publisher=A Jersey Guy |date=December 10, 2012 |access-date=December 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214053033/http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=4188 |archive-date=December 14, 2012  }}</ref><ref name="Katz 2012-12-11">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8735330/big-east-direction-concerns-conference-catholic-schools-sources-say |title=Big East fate vexes Catholic schools |first1=Andy |last1=Katz |first2=Brett |last2=McMurphy |work=ESPN.com |date=December 11, 2012 |access-date=December 11, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211070939/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8735330/big-east-direction-concerns-conference-catholic-schools-sources-say |archive-date=December 11, 2012  }}</ref><ref name="Parrish 2012-12-11">{{cite news |url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/21353826/big-easts-non-football-members-meet-discuss-possible-breakaway |title=Big East's non-football members meet, discuss possible breakaway |first=Gary |last=Parrish |work=Eye on College Basketball |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=December 11, 2012 |access-date=December 11, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211232548/http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/21353826/big-easts-non-football-members-meet-discuss-possible-breakaway |archive-date=December 11, 2012  }}</ref><ref name="DeCourcy 2012-12-10">{{cite news |url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2012-12-10/big-east-conference-expansion-dissolve-georgetown-marquette-villanova?eadid=EL/SICOM&sct=hp_t2_a5 |title=Big East basketball-first schools reportedly meet on topic of dissolution |first=Mike |last=DeCourcy |work=[[Sporting News]] |date=December 10, 2012 |access-date=December 11, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20121211112916/http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2012-12-10/big-east-conference-expansion-dissolve-georgetown-marquette-villanova?eadid=EL%2FSICOM&sct=hp_t2_a5 |archive-date=December 11, 2012  }}</ref> By December 13, it was likely that the non-FBS schools would indeed leave to form a new conference,<ref name="McMurphy 2012-12-13">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8742607/seven-catholic-schools-leaning-leaving-big-east-sources-say |title=Sources: 7 leaning to leave Big East |first1=Brett |last1=McMurphy |first2=Andy |last2=Katz |first3=Dana |last3=O'Neil |work=ESPN.com |date=December 13, 2012 |access-date=December 13, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214142024/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8742607/seven-catholic-schools-leaning-leaving-big-east-sources-say |archive-date=December 14, 2012  }}</ref> and on December 15, the seven schools (soon to be called the ''Catholic 7'' by the media) made their departure official, effective with the 2015–16 school year.<ref name="Seven leaving">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8749700/seven-schools-decide-leave-big-east-pursue-new-basketball-framework |title=Seven schools leaving Big East |work=ESPN.com |date=December 15, 2012 |access-date=December 16, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215232907/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8749700/seven-schools-decide-leave-big-east-pursue-new-basketball-framework |archive-date=December 15, 2012  }}</ref> Many details remained to be worked out, with one major issue being whether the "Big East" name would stay with the FBS schools.<ref name="McMurphy 2012-12-14">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8745235/seven-schools-agree-leave-big-east-debating-process-source-says |title=Sources: 7 schools agree to leave |first1=Brett |last1=McMurphy |first2=Andy |last2=Katz |first3=Dana |last3=O'Neil |work=ESPN.com |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214112022/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8745235/seven-schools-agree-leave-big-east-debating-process-source-says |archive-date=December 14, 2012  }}</ref>

On December 31, Boise State announced they had decided to stay in the Mountain West conference, leaving the Big East, much like TCU, without ever playing a game in it.  With Boise State staying in the Mountain West, it was noted that San Diego State would indeed try to rejoin the Mountain West as well.<ref name="McMurphy">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8796807/boise-state-broncos-staying-mountain-west-conference-all|title=Boise St. sticking with Mountain West|last=McMurphy|first=Brett|access-date=December 31, 2012|date=December 31, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101041245/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8796807/boise-state-broncos-staying-mountain-west-conference-all|archive-date=January 1, 2013}}</ref> On January 16, 2013, reports surfaced that SDSU would indeed stay in the Mountain West.  Rumors of the MWC looking at potentially adding Houston and SMU as its 13th and 14th football members, both of which had stated they would join the Big East in 2013, continued to circulate as well.<ref name="McMurphy"/>

In February 2013, multiple media reports indicated that the ''Catholic 7'' would depart in July 2013, two years earlier than originally planned. On March 5, the [[Associated Press]] reported tentative details of a financial agreement: In exchange for selling both the Big East name and a contract with [[Madison Square Garden]] (MSG) to host the men's basketball tournament to the ''Catholic 7'', as well as $10 million, the football schools would receive $100 million of a $110 million pool that had accumulated from entry fees, exit fees, and proceeds earned from appearances in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9019093/big-east-football-schools-keep-close-110-million-league-split-according-report |title=Report: $100M for football schools |work=ESPN.com |date=March 5, 2013 |access-date=March 5, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306185231/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9019093/big-east-football-schools-keep-close-110-million-league-split-according-report |archive-date=March 6, 2013  }}</ref>  On April 3, the football-playing schools, which retained the old Big East's structure and its automatic BCS bid, announced they would operate as the [[American Athletic Conference]] starting on July 1.<ref name="aac">{{cite web|url=http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/243706/new-name-in-college-sports-current-big-east-enters-new-era-as-american-athletic.aspx |title=New Name in College Sports – Current BIG EAST Enters New Era as 'American Athletic Conference' |date=April 3, 2013 |access-date=April 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406033911/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/243706/new-name-in-college-sports-current-big-east-enters-new-era-as-american-athletic.aspx |archive-date=April 6, 2013 }}</ref>

===Membership timeline===

<timeline>
DateFormat  = yyyy
ImageSize   = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20

Period      = from:1979 till:2025
TimeAxis    = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea    = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph,  use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#
Colors =  id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)
          id:line value:black
          id:bg value:white

          id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
          id:FullxF value:rgb(0.551,0.824,0.777) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football
          id:FullxF1 value:rgb(0.331,0.824,0.557) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football before 2013
          id:AssocF value:rgb(0.98,0.5,0.445) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
          id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.5,0.691,0.824) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in some sports, but not all (consider identifying in legend or a footnote)
          id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference
          id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference where OtherC1 has already been used, to distinguish the two
          id:OtherC3 value:rgb(0.888,0.803,0.483)
          id:BE2 value:rgb(0.784,1,0.514) # Use this color to denote a team that moved to the successor new Big East Conference
          id:AAC value:rgb(0.678,0.941,0.902) # Use this color to denote a team that moved to the successor American Athletic Conference

PlotData=
   width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

   bar:1 color:FullxF from:1979 till:1991 text:[[Boston College]] (1979–2005)
   bar:1 color:Full from:1991 till:2005 
   bar:1 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:end text:[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]

   bar:2 color:FullxF from:1979 till:2004 text:[[University of Connecticut|Connecticut]] (1979–2013)
   bar:2 color:Full from:2004 till:2013
   bar:2 color:AAC from:2013 till:2020 text:[[American Athletic Conference|American]]
   bar:2 color:BE2 from:2020 till:end text:[[Big East Conference|Big East]]

   bar:3 color:FullxF from:1979 till:2013 text:[[Georgetown University|Georgetown]] (1979–2013)
   bar:3 color:BE2 from:2013 till:end text:[[Big East Conference|Big East]]

   bar:4 color:FullxF from:1979 till:2013 text:[[Providence College|Providence]] (1979–2013)
   bar:4 color:BE2 from:2013 till:end text:[[Big East Conference|Big East]]

   bar:5 color:FullxF from:1979 till:2013 text:[[St. John's University (New York)|St. John's]] (1979–2013)
   bar:5 color:BE2 from:2013 till:end text:[[Big East Conference|Big East]]

   bar:6 color:FullxF from:1979 till:2013 text:[[Seton Hall University|Seton Hall]] (1979–2013)
   bar:6 color:BE2 from:2013 till:end text:[[Big East Conference|Big East]]

   bar:7 color:FullxF from:1979 till:1991 text:[[Syracuse University|Syracuse]] (1979–2013)
   bar:7 color:Full from:1991 till:2013
   bar:7 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]

   bar:8 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1980 text:[[Atlantic 10 Conference|EAA]]
   bar:8 color:FullxF from:1980 till:2013 text:   [[Villanova University|Villanova]] (1980–2013)
   bar:8 color:BE2 from:2013 till:end text:[[Big East Conference|Big East]]

   bar:9 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1982 text:[[Atlantic 10 Conference|EAA]]
   bar:9 color:FullxF from:1982 till:1991 text:[[University of Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh]] (1982–2013)
   bar:9 color:Full from:1991 till:2013  
   bar:9 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]

   bar:10 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1991 text:[[NCAA Division I independent schools|Independent]]
   bar:10 color:Full from:1991 till:2004 text:[[University of Miami|Miami]] (1991–2004)
   bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:2004 till:end text:[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]

   bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1982 text:[[Atlantic 10 Conference|EAA]]
   bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:1982 till:1991 text:[[Atlantic 10 Conference|A-10]]
   bar:11 color:AssocF from:1991 till:1995 text:[[Rutgers University|Rutgers]] (FB only 1991–1995; all sports 1995–2013) 
   bar:11 color:Full from:1995 till:2013 text:
   bar:11 color:AAC from:2013 till:2014 
   bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:[[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]]

   bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1982 text:[[Atlantic 10 Conference|EAA]]
   bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:1982 till:1991 text:[[Atlantic 10 Conference|A-10]]
   bar:12 color:AssocF from:1991 till:1995 text:[[West Virginia University|West Virginia]] (FB only 1991–1995; all sports 1995–2012)  
   bar:12 color:Full from:1995 till:2012 
   bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:[[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]

   bar:13 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1991 text:[[Metro Conference|Metro]]
   bar:13 color:AssocF from:1991 till:2000 text:[[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University|Virginia Tech]] (FB only 1991–2000; all sports 2000–2004)
   bar:13 color:Full from:2000 till:2004 
   bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2004 till:end text:     [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]

   bar:14 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1982 text:[[Atlantic 10 Conference|EAA]]
   bar:14 color:OtherC2 from:1982 till:1991 text:[[Atlantic 10 Conference|A-10]]
   bar:14 color:AssocF from:1991 till:2005 text:[[Temple University|Temple]] (FB only 1991–2005 and 2012–2013)
   bar:14 color:OtherC3 from:2005 till:2007 text:[[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|FB Ind.]]
   bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:2007 till:2012 text:[[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] (FB only)
   bar:14 color:AssocF from:2012 till:2013
   bar:14 color:AAC from:2013 till:end text:[[American Athletic Conference|American]]

   bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1982 text:[[NCAA Division I independent schools|Ind.]]
   bar:15 color:OtherC3 from:1982 till:1986 text:[[Horizon League|MCC]]
   bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:1986 till:1987 text:[[NCAA Division I independent schools|Ind.]]
   bar:15 color:OtherC3 from:1987 till:1995 text:[[Horizon League|MCC]]
   bar:15 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2013 text:[[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]] (1995–2013)
   bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]

   bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1991 text:[[Metro Conference|Metro]]
   bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:1991 till:1995 text:[[Great Midwest Conference|Great Midwest]]
   bar:16 color:OtherC3 from:1995 till:2005 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:16 color:Full from:2005 till:2013 text:[[University of Cincinnati|Cincinnati]] (2005–2013)
   bar:16 color:AAC from:2013 till:2023 text:[[American Athletic Conference|American]]
   bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:[[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]

   bar:17 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1991 text:[[NCAA Division I independent schools|Independent]]
   bar:17 color:OtherC1 from:1991 till:1995 text:[[Great Midwest Conference|Great Midwest]]
   bar:17 color:OtherC3 from:1995 till:2005 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:17 color:FullxF from:2005 till:2013 text:[[DePaul University|DePaul]] (2005–2013)
   bar:17 color:BE2 from:2013 till:end text:[[Big East Conference|Big East]]

   bar:18 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1995 text:[[Metro Conference|Metro]]
   bar:18 color:OtherC3 from:1995 till:2005 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:18 color:Full from:2005 till:2013 text:[[University of Louisville|Louisville]] (2005–2013) 
   bar:18 color:AAC from:2013 till:2014 
   bar:18 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]

   bar:19 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1988 text:[[NCAA Division I independent schools|Independent]]
   bar:19 color:OtherC3 from:1988 till:1991 text:[[Horizon League|MCC]]
   bar:19 color:OtherC1 from:1991 till:1995 text:[[Great Midwest Conference|Great Midwest]]
   bar:19 color:OtherC3 from:1995 till:2005 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:19 color:FullxF from:2005 till:2013 text:[[Marquette University|Marquette]] (2005–2013)
   bar:19 color:BE2 from:2013 till:end text:[[Big East Conference|Big East]]

   bar:20 color:OtherC1 from:1979 till:1991 text:[[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]]
   bar:20 color:OtherC2 from:1991 till:1995 text:[[Metro Conference|Metro]]
   bar:20 color:OtherC3 from:1995 till:2005 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:20 color:Full from:2005 till:2013 text:[[University of South Florida|South Florida]] (2005–2013)
   bar:20 color:AAC from:2013 till:end text:[[American Athletic Conference|American]]

ScaleMajor  = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:1980
TextData =
    fontsize:L
    textcolor:black
    pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center)
    text:^"Big East Membership History"

#> If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following six options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space. {{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Full members}} {{Font color||{{RGB|141|211|199}}|Full members (non-football)}} {{Font  color||{{RGB|251|128|114}}|Assoc. members (football only)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|128|177|211}}|Assoc. member (w lacrosse)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Other  Conference}} {{Font color||{{RGB|253|180|98}}|Other  Conference}} <#  </timeline>

{{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Full members}} {{Font color||{{RGB|141|211|199}}|Full members (non-football)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|251|128|114}}|Assoc. members (football only)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|200|255|131}}|[[Big East Conference|New Big East]]}} {{Font color||{{RGB|173|240|230}}|[[American Athletic Conference]]}} {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Other Conference}} {{Font color||{{RGB|253|180|98}}|Other Conference}}  {{Font color||{{RGB|226|205|123}}|Other Conference}}

===Subsequent conference affiliations===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! Team !! Left for !! Current home
|-
| Connecticut || rowspan="4"| [[American Athletic Conference]] || [[Big East Conference]]<br>{{small|(plays as [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|football independent]])}}
|-
| Rutgers || [[Big Ten Conference]]
|-
| Louisville  || [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]
|-
| Cincinnati || [[Big 12 Conference]]
|-
| Syracuse || colspan="2" rowspan="5" | [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]
|-
| Pittsburgh
|-
| Boston College
|-
|Virginia Tech
|-
|Miami
|-
| Notre Dame || colspan="2"| [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] <br>{{small|(plays as [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|football independent]])}}
|-
| West Virginia || colspan=2 | [[Big 12]]
|-
| Georgetown || colspan=2, rowspan=7 | ''new'' [[Big East Conference]]
|-
| Marquette
|-
| Villanova
|-
| Providence
|-
| DePaul
|-
| St. John's
|-
| Seton Hall
|-
| Temple || colspan="2," rowspan="2" | [[American Athletic Conference]]
|-
| South Florida
|-
|}