Catholic 7 Expected To Begin Play Next Year Under Big East Name

Presidents from the Big East football schools are scheduled to meet today in Atlanta, where they are "expected to sign off on selling the Big East name" to the Catholic 7 schools and "finalize the exit fees." A source said there is a "better chance" the new league starts play in '13-14 rather than '14-15. The league is expected to add Xavier and Butler to start with nine teams and "will eventually expand to 12 teams in the next few years," with Creighton, Dayton and St. Louis "expected to fill in the final three slots" (SI.com, 2/28).

One source "predicted some debate" at the meetings. The source said, "I think the brand is going to be hotly contested" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/1).