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Big East Expansion: Houston Cougars Joining Big East In 2013, According To Report

The Houston Cougars will be playing in the Big East conference beginning in 2013.

HOUSTON - OCTOBER 27:  Chris Thompson #70 of the Houston Cougars along with his teammates hold up the Bayou Bucket after they defeated the Rice Owls 73-34 at Robertson Stadium on October 27, 2011 in Houston, Texas.  (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON - OCTOBER 27: Chris Thompson #70 of the Houston Cougars along with his teammates hold up the Bayou Bucket after they defeated the Rice Owls 73-34 at Robertson Stadium on October 27, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Getty Images

The Houston Cougars may have lost out on a BCS bowl game recently but the success from their 2011 football season may have played a factor in the Big East deciding to have the Cougars join the conference in 2013.

Brett McMurphy of CBS Sports reports that Houston, San Diego State, Boise State, SMU and UCF will join the Big East conference in 2013. via Brett McMurphy's twitter page.

Brett McMurphy
BREAKING: Sources tell Big East will add Boise, San Diego St, Houston, UCF, SMU Wednesday. Will join league in 2013

It doesn't seem like San Diego State and Boise State would fit geographically in the Big East conference, but the addition does make sense for Boise State, whose football coach Chris Peterson has been all but impressed with the current BCS system based on his recent remarks. This addition to the Big East conference currently puts Boise State, along with Houston, in position to get one of the automatic bids to a BCS bowl by being in a BCS conference.

This was a solid move by the Big East conference that had been decimated by their own members leaving for other conferences. It was Pittsburgh and Syracuse that left for the ACC, while West Virginia and supposed-new member TCU, decided to join the Big 12.

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