Blue roundup: Pundits weigh in on BYU and the Big East

PROVO — According to multiple reports around the country, BYU is close to joining the Big East Conference.

ESPN.com reports that BYU "is serious" about the Big East.

"BYU is seriously considering joining the Big East Conference as a football member, a Big East source told ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday night," writes ESPN.com. "Houston, UCF and SMU are ready to join the Big East. But Air Force and Boise State are interested in hearing more about how the western component of the conference would be composed, the source said."

The Orlando Sentinel and the Sporting News had similar reports.

One columnist calls the Big East "an awkward fit" for BYU.

"It's worth noting that BYU was rumored to be a fit for the Big 12 not too long ago, and there were even reports that the deal was done at one point," writes Zachary D. Rymer. "Instead, the rumors ended up leading to a dead end, and now the Cougars are looking to settle for joining the ugly duckling of the six BCS conferences. It's a strange match, but it makes sense for both sides. BYU wants to be in a BCS conference, and the Big East wants enough members to be able to stay alive. It may be an awkward fit, but nobody ever said conference realignment had to be pretty. As you may have noticed, it's not."

One fan believes if BYU joins the Big East, the likelihood of Notre Dame joining increases.