Big East's Non-FBS Schools To Discuss Leaving On Saturday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Officials from the seven schools planning to break off from the Big East will hold a conference call Saturday to discuss leaving the league.

Big East's members that don't have FBS football programs have decided to split from the conference, a person familiar with the decision told the AP on Thursday.

No formal announcement has been made and the group of schools, which includes Georgetown, St. John's and Villanova, was still working on how best to go their own way. They have yet to officially inform the Big East leadership of their intentions.

If the schools were to break off on their own, they could do so without financial penalty. The Big East has provisions in its bylaws that allow a group of schools to leave without exit fees.

Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco isn't expected to be involved in the conference call Saturday.

The other non-football members of the Big East are DePaul, Marquette, Seton Hall and Providence.

The current Big East football membership includes only four schools — South Florida, Connecticut and Cincinnati, Temple — that are committed to the league beyond 2013. But there are 11 schools with plans to join the Big East in the next three years, including Boise State and San Diego State for football only in 2013.

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