The Big East is expected to make a big effort to expand, and "very quickly," according to a source Kelly Whiteside of USA Today cites. Indeed, Whiteside reports the Navy Midshipmen are among the teams the Big East may invite to join its ranks; the Air Force Falcons and Army Black Knights could also come aboard.
Further, the Big East formally announced Monday it has received approval from member schools to begin having "formal discussions with additional institutions" with an aim to expanding the conference. The biggest news is that the Big East could soon have as many as 12 football-playing programs. East Coast Bias, SB Nation's Big East blog, has more on the story:
The move would obviously be aimed at creating a conference championship game and bulking up on football inventory ahead of next year's renegotiation of its television deal with either ESPN or perhaps other network suitors like Comcast.
Navy is not currently a member of any conference, so moving to the Big East would clearly be a significant change.