The Big East is still without a commissioner for now, but the conference does appear to be getting nearer to a new television contract. Currently the league has a deal with ESPN through the 2012-13 season, and the two sides will deal exclusively for 60 days starting Sept. 1.
Reports surfaced Monday that the conference has hired Chris Bevilacqua and Alan Gold as consultants. Those two helped get the PAC-12 the record $3 billion contract with ESPN and Fox last year. The conference turned down a deal with ESPN last year, and now other suitors may be involved.
Backfield by committee in Cincy: Coach Butch Jones told ESPN that it probably isn't realistic that only one guy can replace the production offered by second-round draft pick Isaiah Pead last season. It probably isn't, so the Bearcats will throw three guys in the fire. George Winn, Jameel Poteat, and Ralph Abernathy have the unenviable task of following the conference's offensive player of the year from 2011.
QB to WR to LB: Interesting progression for Cincinnati junior Jordan Luallen, who transferred to the Bearcats from Georgia Tech to play quarterback. Luallen now lines up at linebacker, and (very) early returns have been positive. “We like what we’ve seen,” Butch Jones told Cincinnati.com. Luallen has been a linebacker for three days.
UConn backup QB expected back in camp: Scott McCummings, who was excused from camp by head coach Paul Pasqualoni, is expected to return this week. With Ryan Nebrich transferring to Fordham, McCummings and Johnny McEntee will be battling to backup starter Chandler Whitmer.
Brown trying to avoid a letdown: Temple nose tackle Levi Brown is expected to be an up-and-coming star in the Big East, but he's just worried about getting better. Brown had 23 tackles and a half sack last season, but he's a run stopper up the middle with his size and strength.
Pitt scrimmages: Pittsburgh and first-year head coach Paul Chryst held a scrimmage Saturday night, running over 180 plays. Chryst's motto of "put it on tape" has resonated with senior quarterback Tino Sunseri, who said that he and his teammates are trying to shore things up. A full report of the scrimmage can be found here.
Syracuse freshman QB pressuring Nassib: Senior Ryan Nassib will start for the Orange this season, but redshirt freshman Terrel Hunt has been impressive coming off his spring suspension.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Big East, follow bloggers Evan Hilbert and Matt Rybaltowski @CBSBigEast.