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PROVO -- Multiple reports Tuesday that the Big East has invited BYU to join the conference and be part of a West Division comprised of BYU, Boise State, Air Force, Houston, Louisville and Southern Methodist.
Louisville is already a member of the Big East. The other five schools, including BYU, would join as football-only schools, with the chance to become full members sometime in the future.
The Big East is looking for new members after Syracuse, Pittsburgh, TCU and West Virginia have all announced moves to other conferences. TCU had yet to even play a game as a member of the Big East before splitting for the Big 12.
BYU has not accepted the BIg East's offer, and has not commented or confirmed an invitation was made.
BYU's Board of Trustees meets Thursday.
If BYU were to join the Big East, it likely would not begin competing in that league until 2013.
Just over a week ago head coach Bronco Mendenhall confirmed and expounded on the Big East's interest in BYU.
"There is a push, and there are conversations that are in place, for the Big East to convince, or to have BYU join that conference," said Mendenhall. "I trust our athletic director (Tom Holmoe) and President (Cecil O.) Samuelson to deal with all that.
"Certainly plenty of questions on our part, but with the landscape changing, the main benefit that I could see on a short-term scale would be inclusion into the BCS system. That's up in two years, and whether the Big East is able to hold that spot, with the new teams going in, my guess would be yes."
The Big East's BCS automatic-qualifying status is guaranteed through the 2013 season.
BYU football is in the midst of its first season as an independent. Most of its other sports, including men's basketball, joined the West Coast Conference.
Email: onlinesports@ksl.com
