More from Big East Media Day

The big topic in the conference and really, in the nation, this summer has been the talk of conferences expanding. These so-called super conferences would have put the likes of the Big East in jeopardy.

The temporary dust settled and the big piece in all the talk -- Notre Dame -- chose to remain an independent for the time being. Had the Irish moved it would have led to a chain reaction that very likely would have doomed the Big East.

Because these rumors will pick up again and at some point in time become inevitable, the Big East has spent time and money to study what is in its best interests.

The eight football coaches were instructed to not discuss the conference shuffle matter while in Bridgeport, but listening to commissioner John Marinatto talking you get the feel there will be big changes.

The Big East brought in former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as a consultant. It will also announce a new TV partnership -- different than what's in place -- with SNY next week at Rentschler Field.

But the one thing unsaid that I got the impression will happen is expansion.

This is the course many of the conference's fans want to see as do many of the coaches because it gives a balanced schedule.

Let's look at the possibilities, at least in my opinion, and in no particular order.

1. Notre Dame
This makes the most sense and secures both the conference's future, increased revenue, greater national exposure and higher bowl quality.

But...

This is NEVER going to happen. The Irish would prefer to remain an independent, and if it were to join a conference, the Big Ten (12) makes the most sense.

2. Central Florida
UCF is the most likely because it gives South Florida an in-state rival and improves the Big East's visibility in a football hotbed.

3. East Carolina
This is a strong, southern program that fits the bill for the teams that entered the last time the Big East shuffled its deck.

4. Temple
Are they still mad?

It is an up-and-coming program as long as Al Golden remains there. It's in a major city, which gives the Big East schools in the New York and Philadelphia markets.

5. Memphis
Not a great football program, but the basketball program would have the conference in the news for all the wrong reasons.

6. Any school left hanging by a future purge.
It's called westward expansion.