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Boise State Joins The Big East - The Specifics On Buyout, Television Contract, BCS Status

By Mark Ennis
BOISE, ID - DECEMBER 03: Josh Borgman #19 of the Boise State Broncos carries the hammer onto the field before the game against the New Mexico Lobos at Bronco Stadium on December 3, 2011 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID - DECEMBER 03: Josh Borgman #19 of the Boise State Broncos carries the hammer onto the field before the game against the New Mexico Lobos at Bronco Stadium on December 3, 2011 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images)
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Brian Murphy of the Idaho Statesman did a fantastic job running down all of the specifics of Boise State's agreement to move to the Big East for football in 2013. In his conversation with Boise State's Bob Kustra, Murphy nailed down several important points concerning Boise State's decision to move and what it will mean for the Big East and for the potential new television contract the conference will begin negotiating after the 2012 season. Here are some of the main points from Murphy's report (which you should check out here).

  • Boise State's buyout of the Big East drops to $1 million if the Big East loses its automatic qualifying status in the BCS. I assume that this does not apply to the Big East losing it in a change where the automatic qualifying status is simply done away with. Once Boise State joins, it will also be required to abide by the 27 month exit period currently holding West Virginia, Pitt, and Syracuse
  • Kustra re-emphasized that there will be a divisional alignment and that right now he still believes Louisville and Cincinnati will be in that west division. I'm skeptical that they agree to that divisional alignment. I'd be willing to bet they insist Central Florida be put in the west division.
  • There will be a conference championship game, though the location has not been determined and obviously won't be until the full membership is determined.
  • As we reported yesterday, Boise State will be allowed to wear its blue on blue uniform combination at home but will still be prohibited from using artificial noisemakers (cowbells).
  • Kustra said he's been assured the television contract will have as its floor $5 million dollars per team, and could reach as high as $12 million. Either figure would be significant increase over the current Mountain West Conference or Big East television contract.

Stay tuned to Big East Coast Bias and in particular our Big East Expansion section for any additional news on potential new additions to the conference.

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