The West Virginia Mountaineers' efforts to flee the Big East could finally result in success, according to the Charleston Daily Mail, which says a settlement between the school and the conference has been agreed to. However, Mitch Vingle reports to the contrary.
As further evidence, Texas Tech Red Raiders athletic director Kirby Hocutt says the long-delayed Big 12 football schedule will be released Friday. If so, it will have been delayed at least 11 days by WVU's wrangling with its former conference.
But the Big East could still avoid having Rutgers and Syracuse play each other or some other desperate slapdash. The Boise St. Broncos, whose president Bob Kustra has previously denied they could join the Big East in time for the 2012 season, may actually be able to fill the gap.
CBS Sports' Brett McMurphy reports Boise State has been in touch with the WAC about possibly stowing its non-football sports there if it needs to make a break for the Big East ahead of schedule. Broncos beat writer Brian Murphy concurs.
Either way, it sounds like one thing will finally be out of the way this week.
For more on the Mountaineers fight to leave the Big East, visit The Smoking Musket. For updates on Big East football, basketball and expansion, visit Big East Coast Bias, and stay tuned to our college conference realignment section.