UConn is on the verge of rejoining the Big East Conference for all sports that the conference sponsors, including basketball, sources confirmed Saturday. Uconn is still awaiting and expecting an official invitation from the Big East this week, with an announcement of the Huskies’ move tentatively scheduled for Thursday.
This move would return UConn to its historic basketball roots and is an overall better opportunity for its basketball programs. However, UConn must figure out what to do with its football program. Dropping football is not being considered, despite the program accounting for the biggest hit in the athletic department’s $41 million deficit last year. It is highly unlikely that the American Athletic Conference would have interest in retaining UConn as a football-only member, but since scheduling done well in advance, the Huskies are expected to play in the AAC for the upcoming season.
UConn will have to find another conference for football by the 2020 season or have the program operate as an independent, like Notre Dame, Army, Navy, etc.
The cost to leave the AAC is $10 million, with 27 months notice. The fee would have to be negotiated if UConn leaves earlier than September 2022.