According to the New York Times Pete Thamel, the Big East is in talks with Temple to become an all-sports member as early as this coming season.
"The Big East is in discussions to add Temple for all sports as early as the next school year, according to someone briefed on the talks. Temple belongs to the Mid-American Conference and the Atlantic 10 in various sports and there are legal issues that have to be dealt with before the Owls would be able to leave. A resolution is expected this month."
And if Temple and the Big East can't work things out, apparently there's also a seat warm at the Mount USA (combined Conference USA-Mountain West conference) table.
"Within the next month, Temple will also have to inform the new conference formed by the merger of the Mountain West and Conference USA of its intentions. Temple has been asked to join that league."
If Temple joins the Big East, that would give the conference 13 football schools and 18 basketball programs in the end state. But we all know that this won't be the end state and likely will free up a current all-sports Big East member to move on to greener pastures (OH HAI Louisville in the Big 12!).
The MAC, which is adding Massachusetts as a football-only member this season, would return to its current configuration of 13 football schools and 12 all-sports programs. And the A-10 would become one closer to matching its namesake (13 programs).
While Temple to the Big East is a no-brainer for both the school and the Big East -- like, should have been done WAY before Memphis to the Big East -- I don't like this move from Boston College's perspective.
Since getting booted from the Big East in 2004 due to underperformance, the school has transformed their program over the last few seasons under Al Golden and now Steve Addazio. Unless you were living under a rock, you may have noticed that Addazio just poached BC's former offensive coordinator (Kevin Rogers) and forever-OC-in-waiting (Ryan Day). You may have also noticed that the Temple Owls have enjoyed more success on the gridiron than BC over the last three seasons, albeit in a lesser football conference.
Still, facts. The Owls are 26-12 in the last three seasons, have made two bowl appearances (should have been three but the 8-4 Owls were passed over for a bowl spot in 2010) and are coming off the program's first bowl win in more than three decades. BC is just 19-19 over that span and two of three in bowl appearances with the program failing to make a bowl for the first time in 12 seasons this past winter.
The last thing BC needs is to see other Northeast programs bettering their lot in life, particular once-Big East doormats like Temple and Rutgers. Both programs, especially Rutgers with newly installed former BC assistants in Brock and Sirmans, can make BC's life even more difficult on the recruiting trail.
Actually, looks like they already are. Great. Certainly the last thing the BC football program needs as it tries to pick itself up off the mat.