EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — New Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco says the conference wants to add a 14th member for football, and is planning to have a championship game after next season.

Aresco spoke with reporters Thursday night before Connecticut’s football game with Massachusetts.

Aresco declined to say which teams the Big East is pursuing. He also said he’s confident the teams currently committed to the Big East, including Connecticut, will stay.

The Big East, which lost West Virginia to the Big 12, and will lose Syracuse and Pitt to the ACC next season, will span four time zones starting next season with the addition of programs such as Boise State.

Aresco says his two top priorities when he starts work next week are negotiating a lucrative television deal, and making sure the league is recognized as one of the nation’s top six football conferences.

Do you think Big East football will be considered a Top Six football conference? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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