Big East Obituary Monday

Week three of the college football season is in the books which means one thing- league play fully begins next week for the majority of teams out there. League play. That term used to be so boring. These days, "league" is an evolving term. The biggest news in the world of college football didn't happen on the field. News broke before the noon games kicked off on Saturday that Pitt and Syracuse will be joining the ACC sooner rather than later. Connecticut announced thereafter that they too will be seeking admission into the ACC. Combine that with the earlier news that A&M is going to the SEC and Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and OK State are all slated to make the move to the PAC12 something this week means we have entered the final stages of total realignment.

None of this is a shock. Nebraska and Colorado started all this when they pulled the trigger and bolted from the Big12. Everyone always assumed that the Big Ten, Pac12 and the SEC would be the three leagues to survive. The fourth "super league" would be made up of all the rest. It looks like the ACC will be that fourth. So what about the Big East teams that haven't declared? Where do they go? Here are my thoughts.

NOTE: I will only focus on Big East teams.

Leaving

Pittsburgh: A decent football team with some tradition. A staple in the lowly Big East though.

Syracuse: Again, a decent football tradition. Big alumni base and recognition. Good fit for the ACC.

Trying to Leave

Connecticut: The defending Big East champion. NOT a football power. They are seeking survival. Geographically, would easily fit into the ACC.

Undecided

South Florida: A team on the rise. The ACC would be a great fit for them. Growing school, good football team, etc. It would add a third ACC team to Florida.

West Virginia: WVU to the SEC seems the most likely course. Out of all the teams up for grabs, WVU is the best bet. Passionate fans and a good football program that could compete in the SEC. Mid level of course, but still a good team.

Rutgers: Rutgers is a team that has popped up on the Big Ten radar for a while. They would really like a team that is close to Penn State and expands the Big Ten eastward. Rutgers would be a good Big Ten fit- academics being the only question.

Cincinnati: A tough fit. Would the Big Ten take another Ohio team? Do they fit in the Big Ten? Do they fit in the ACC? More importantly, is there room? Cincy in the SEC? Too many questions. The argument could be made for the SEC. Expand the brand into Ohio, tv, etc. However, Northern Kentucky and Cincinatti share the same television market. They are already exposed to SEC games thanks to UK. This could be a team left without a chair.

Louisville: Another team that could be left without a chair. Like Cincinnati, they don't have anything that sets them apart in the bidding wars. Louisville would be a good fit for the Big 12, but it looks like that league is folding. Louisville has to get aggressive quick.

Coming

TCU: Poor TCU. They announced last year that they were coming to the Big East to avoid the very scenario they are now in. TCU will be left without a chair, and it's a shame.

That's the football picture. FACT: The Big East is a terrible league in football. What about basketball? We all know football pays the bills. However, Big East basketball is the SEC of NCAA hoops. Syracuse, Pitt, UConn in the ACC with Duke, Maryland, UNC etc.... geez.

What about schools like Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette, St. Johns? Basketball first schools. Where do they land? Likewise in the Big 12- Kansas and Kansas State? A lot of change is coming, and EVERY school will be impacted by it.

SEC Standings Week Three

East

Florida 3-0, 1-0: Good win over division rival Tennessee. Florida and USC look to the beasts of the East.

South Carolina 3-0, 1-0: Close win over Navy. Still the team to beat.

Vandy 3-0, 1-0: Surprise team so far. Demolished Ole Miss at home on Saturday. Not a pushover?

UK 2-1, 0-0: HUGE loss at home to Louisville. We are terrible. The UK/Ole Miss game could determine the worst team in the league.

Tennessee 2-1, 0-1: Showed signs of life in the loss to Florida. Coach Dooley is fighting the Lane Kiffin era and sanctions but is putting a competitive product on the field each week.

Georgia 1-2, 0-1: Big win over a cupcake. Still a dangerous team.

West

LSU 3-0, 1-0: Good win over MSU to kick off league play. Still on top.

Auburn 2-1, 1-0: Win streak finally snapped. Not last years Tigers. Still undefeated in league play....

Alabama 3-0, 0-0: Another big cupcake win. All comes down to LSU/Bama.

Arkansas 3-0, 0-0: I'm impressed with the Hogs. They lose a ton, but still keep putting up big numbers. The Petrino effect.

Ole Miss 1-2, 0-1: Will not call them the worst team in the league yet. Getting close though.

Mississippi State 1-2, 0-2: Two tough losses in league play early for the dogs. Still a mid level west team. Better than Ole Miss....

Skipping the conference picks this week. They haven't changed. One last thought on expansion though....

Notre Dame. If you want to be relevant (or survive) you MUST join one of these super conferences. Independents won't last. I know you have that fancy NBC contract and tradition and blah blah blah. Everyone has a fancy tv contract these days. Quit living in the Lou Holtz Buick station wagon era- modernize or die. Just saying.