Memphis to join Big East in 2013-14

Memphis, TN – The ongoing game of musical chairs in college athletics has its newest player.

Memphis is expected to join the Big East in all sports for the 2013-14 season, completing the conference's goal of having 12 football members.

The Big East will host a teleconference with university officials on Wednesday at 12 p.m. (et), at which time the plan is expected to become official.

The move was reported by several outlets on Tuesday. The Big East said in a news release that the teleconference was to address conference membership and Memphis scheduled a press conference for an hour later.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto and South Florida president Dr. Judy Genshaft, CEO of the conference's executive committee, will be joined by Memphis president Dr. Shirley C. Raines and athletic director R.C. Johnson on the teleconference call.

The Big East, of course, has been adding members to offset the eventual exits of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia and to reach its goal of having 12 football teams.

Memphis, in leaving Conference USA, would be the 12th.

The Big East had already announced the additions of Central Florida, SMU and Houston as full members and Boise State, San Diego State and Navy for football only.

It hopes to create two divisions and stage an annual conference championship game.

Syracuse and Pittsburgh announced in September that they were leaving for the ACC and West Virginia is moving to the Big 12. TCU, which had agreed to leave the Mountain West for the Big East, decided instead to join the Big 12.

In 2015, the football-playing teams in the Big East would be Boise State, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Navy, Rutgers, San Diego State, South Florida and SMU.