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BY CHRISTINA MARTIN

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

You're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy

Yesterday-the Big East. Today-the Big 12 for Texas Christian University. The whirlwind conference realignment saga continued with the Big 12 announcing the expansion Thursday afternoon.

“Acting upon a unanimous recommendation of its expansion subcommittee, the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors has authorized negotiations with Texas Christian University to become the Conference's 10th member, and instructed interim commissioner Chuck Neinas to immediately begin discussions with TCU.”


The Horned Frogs have been members of five different conferences in the past sixteen years, and ESPN commentator Trevor Matich says the move isn’t all about TCU--the Big 12 is winning too.


TREVOR MATICH: “In the past there was resistance to adding another Texas team, because they already have the Texas television market locked up. But at some point, there’s value in solidifying your existence, and with the rumors of Missouri possibly leaving for the SEC, it makes sense to solidify right now”

TCU promised the Big East they would join in 2012--so what does the Big East do now that its been ditched by the reigning Rose Bowl champs? CBS Sports’ writer Gary Parrish says the reeling conference could try to poach some Big 12 schools.

“What the Big East should've done is tried to take advantage of the Big 12's turmoil last month and offered invitations to any Midwest school willing to leave the Texas-Oklahoma fight behind. It might not have worked, obviously. But if we've learned anything over the past few years it's that one way to strengthen yourself is to damage the competition...”

TCU to the Big 12, Syracuse and Pitt to the ACC--the Big East needs to find some replacements--and fast. SB Nation’s Spencer Hall says joining the Big 12 gets TCU out of a conference that might not be bowl eligible.

“The Horned Frogs jumped ship, found the lower compartments flooded, and caught a ride on the next freighter in sight. You might call it disloyalty, but you'll have to do it while treading water. TCU is dry and sipping grog above deck while you're the ones in the water, Big East, and on life's big scoreboard that goes firmly in the "W" column.”

Founded as a basketball-only conference in 1979, the Big East might have to scrap football all together--New York Times writer Pete Thamel says TCU’s departure could send the Big East back to their roots.

“...the remaining Big East universities will most likely face hard choices in the next few weeks. They can either commit to one another and add a handful of new universities ...or dissolve the football portion of the league and dedicate themselves to maintaining their status as the best basketball conference in the country.”

TCU will have to pay a $5 million exit fee to the Big East if it does end up leaving for greener pastures.