The Boise St. Broncos moved one step closer to joining the Big East Conference by announcing that they have requested permission from the State Board to change conference affiliation for its intercollegiate athletics teams.
The official announcement from President Bob Kustra notes the significant increases in financial returns that await Boise by joining the Big East:
If the expansion plans of the Big East proceed as reported, there will be 12 football playing schools in the Big East. Under the current Big East media agreements (which will lapse and come due for renegotiation in 2012), the payouts to the football playing schools would be approximately $3,700,000 annually. However, the Big East Conference is the only member of the BCS automatic qualifying conferences that has its media rights package coming due for renewal in 2012. The Big East expects that bidding its media rights on the open market in the fall of 2012 will result in a significant increase in the conference media revenue.
He also notes the BCS standing of the conference, a huge reason why Boise would make the move from non-AQ conference The Mountain West.
According to the latter, the conference change would be expected to occur in July 1, 2013 and thanks to the one-year's notice, Boise would avoid paying the $5,000,000 exit penalty to the Mountain West Conference.
For more, visit Boise State blog One Bronco Nation Under God and Big East Coast Bias. Stay tuned to SB Nation's conference realignment news section.