With conference realignment the soup du jour, Houston's Board of Regents have made a decision to uplift the Cougars into big-time college football. Per the Associated Press:
Houston regents will meet Thursday to authorize the school chancellor to negotiate a move to a new conference. #cougars #cusa #bigeast - @AP_Top25 via Twitter
Per Sam Khan of the Houston Chronicle:
Exact wording regarding conference affiliation on #UH BOR meeting agenda: "Approval is requested to delegate authority to the Chancellor to negotiate and execute a contract for athletic conference affiliation and to negotiate and provide notice of contract cancellation as necessary."
So what does all of this mean?
The Cougars have given their leadership permission to leave Conference-USA and make a deal to give their football program a promotion. Houston could have to wait as soon as a few weeks or as long as a few months due to their status in pecking order. The SEC will have to decide if Missouri will be the 14th member of their conference and the Big 12 will have to decide if Missouri leaves, then who will replace them. West Virginia? BYU?
Houston could look to supplement what TCU was thought to bring to the Big East when it initially signed last year, before reneging on their agreement and joining the Big 12 a few weeks ago.