With the Pac-12 on the verge of expanding to 16 teams and the SEC poised to add Texas A&M, officials on the presidential, athletic director and conference levels in the Big East, ACC and Big 12 have been burning up the phone lines over the last 72 hours.
The results of those talks could forever change the makeup of the Big East, The Post has learned.
According to multiple sources, the most likely scenario — should Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech leave the Big 12 for the Pac-12 — would bring Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri to the Big East.
That would create a super conference with 20 schools playing all sports, including 12 FBS football members.
“Obviously we’re monitoring the landscape,” Big East commissioner John Marinatto told The Post. “We’re very aware of the situation and will continue to do what’s in the best interests of the Big East Conference.”
Marinatto, who sources said sent an email to all of his conference presidents and athletic directors, would offer no specifics and declined to comment on any school. But the league, which faces crucial TV negotiations in November 2012, is looking to best position itself for those talks.
The 12-and-20 alignment would finally give the members that play football a sense of security. The basketball schools would somewhat begrudgingly accept 20 members, knowing it would ensure the league’s survival by expanding the league’s footprint into the Midwest.
But there are other scenarios that can’t be ruled out.
Although Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany recently said in published reports the possible expansion of the Pac-12 does not change his league’s approach or timetable for any expansion, several sources said the Big Ten is interested in Maryland of the ACC.
It’s a long shot that Maryland, an ACC charter member, would leave that league, but money speaks louder than league affiliation these days.
If the ACC lost Maryland to the Big Ten and the SEC took an ACC program as its 14th member, a possible Big East-ACC “merger” would create an East Coast super conference.
When the Big 12 nearly lost five members to the Pac-12 last year, the Big East had an agreement in principle with Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. The Big East has since added TCU, making Iowa State expendable.
Missouri has dearly wanted an invite to the Big Ten, but one doesn’t seem forthcoming.
The SEC might be interested in Missouri, which borders Arkansas, but sources told The Post Missouri sees a better cultural fit with the Big East than the SEC.
In order for the Big East to add a member, a three-quarters vote is needed.
TCU, which joins the league next season, does not have a vote.
That means 12 of 16 schools would have to approve the additions of Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State.