USF at Temple in 2012?

Posted Feb 22, 2012 by Joey Johnston

Updated Feb 22, 2012 at 10:06 PM

Cheesesteaks, anyone?

In the latest edition of “As the Big East Turns,’’ CBSSports.com is reporting that Temple University is a good bet to become an all-sports member of the Big East Conference in 2012, allowing league teams to compensate for the loss of West Virginia on their football schedules. If that scenario plays out—and the Big East schedule doesn’t change—the University of South Florida Bulls would travel to Temple this fall in Philadelphia. USF was scheduled to play at West Virginia before the Mountaineers bolted for the Big 12.

The irony to all of this, of course, is the fact that Temple, one of the league’s original football members, was kicked out of the Big East following the 2004 season for being non-competitive. The Owls, now members of the Mid-American Conference in football, have drastically upgraded their program under coach Al Golden (now at Miami) and his successor, former Florida assistant Steve Addazio. The Owls, in fact, are 26-12 in the last three seasons. Temple would add value in men’s basketball, where it would join another Big East basketball school from Philadelphia, Villanova.

It was thought that Boise State, scheduled to join the Big East as a football-only member in 2013, was working to join the league one season early. But due to a series of financial and legal issues, Boise State president Bob Kustra said the Broncos would follow their original plan and finish in the Mountain West next season.

Temple’s exit would have financial ramifications of its own. According to CBSSports.com, the MAC exit fee is $2.5-million with two years notice. The exit fee from the Atlantic 10, where Temple plays basketball, is $2-million with less than a year’s notice.

If Temple is added next year, the Big East would have eight football members and 16 schools for basketball. Pittsburgh and Syracuse already have announced their plans to join the ACC. The Big East conference bylaws won’t let that happen until July 1, 2014—after a 27-month waiting period—but the schools are expected to negotiate an exit for the ACC in 2013.

In 2013, Boise State and San Diego State will join the Big East for football only, while Central Florida, Houston, Memphis and SMU are added for all sports. Navy will be added for football only in 2015.