If Rome wasn't built in a day, the Big East Conference sure wasn't dismantled any faster. However, it is happening again, as a report from New York Post writer Lenn Robbins has more conference realignment news. This time, it's West Virginia University leaving the Big East for the Big 12.
"The Big 12 held a board of directors meeting yesterday, and a source said the league's plan is to hold on to Missouri, which wants to leave for the SEC, for one more year and then replace it with West Virginia."
Before Tuesday, there were many rumors about the Mountaineers, who currently has the only Big East football program ranking in the top 25 in the Bowl Championship Series standings (No. 25), bolting for the Big 12, which may plan to continue its expansion.
If (when) WVU (5-2, 1-1 Big East) leaves, then the Big East will be forced to replace four football-playing schools -- Syracuse University, the University of Pittsburgh, Texas Christian University and WVU, which have all announced they're leaving the Big East for other conferences.
Rumors have the Big East inviting Boise State University, Air Force, Navy, the University of Central Florida, the University of Houston, Southern Methodist University and, now, possibly Temple University to help the Big East reach its 12-team goal. However, if the league does invite all of these schools one would think that there is going to be a big divide between the football-playing schools and the non-football schools.
-- More on Big 12 expansion and conference realignment can be found at SB Nation's college football hubpage.
