The Big East has to make sure this happen (link via Big East Basketball Report).
The Southeastern Conference has engaged the Big East in discussions for a similar series that one insider told the Daily News “are looking pretty serious.” The SEC also has explored a series with the Big 12 as a possible fallback.
Were the SEC and Big East to consummate their deal – with a series of 8-10 games annually – it would bring together two conferences that sent a combined 14 teams to this year’s NCAA Tournament.
“One of the things that could make it work is that fact that all the teams involved play in the same two time zones,” a second insider said. The games would be broadcast on ESPN should the sides reach an agreement.
Old-school Big East fans might still agitate for a return of the ACC challenge, but it seems unlikely that the Big 11 and ACC will split anytime soon. It just works for both a little better since there is less overlap in regions. I just want the Big East to do a series with any other major conference, and the SEC seems like the best choice. The PAC 10, while offering a nifty East vs. West angle isn’t workable given the size difference of the conferences. The Big 12 just isn’t that attractive, though, a K-State-Cinci game might be amusing.
If this happens, Pitt’s non-con for 2006-07 would likely be more than half complete: Duquesne, Robert Morris, Dayton, at Auburn, at Wisconsin and the SEC challenge game. I’d like to think the Penn State series would be renewed, but we all know how much Penn State hates one-sided series (that don’t go their way).
I think it is also good for the football side of things to build stronger ties with another BCS conference. Open the possibility for more dialogue on scheduling and just building personal relations with them. Anything to make it harder to lose the Automatic BCS bid.