You can go home again. And in more desperate times for the Big East, Temple was able to get something they couldn’t in the past: all-sports membership.

Temple had been part of the Big East discussions ever since the defections of Syracuse and Pitt. But when the Big East opted for UCF, Houston and SMU for all-sports, it appeared Temple’s only hope would be football-only. Those hopes were soon dashed when Boise St. and San Diego St. were brought in for football only. And when Navy was brought in for football only (2015) and Memphis was later brought in as an all-sports replacement for WVU, things did not look good for Temple. But due to the Big East’s need for a 2012 8th football member, Temple was back in the mix…and as the only school considered by the conference, it meant Temple was able to get more than just a new football home.

Temple will pay the MAC $6 million to leave early in 2012. Their non-football sports will move from the A10 to the Big East a year later in 2013, paying a $1 million exit fee.

The move from the MAC could mean trouble for UMass, the other football-only MAC member, as the conference has a clause that it can expel UMass after 2 seasons if Temple were to leave (or vice versa). The MAC must now decide to remain at 13 or to consider a 14th member from potential FCS upgrades such as Appalachian St., Georgia St., Charlotte, George Southern, JMU, Delaware and others.

As for the Big East, the conference now has a look much different than it traditionally has had. While the addition of Temple seems like a great fit, adding an all-sports Philadelphia market program, the remnants of what make up the Big East are quite different. Schools like Temple and Navy in the region always made sense for the Big East, but with Boston College, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia no longer in the Big East future, the Big East is hoping Temple will fill some of that new void.

The addition of Temple will also add further fuel to the rumors of a future Big East split. With Temple now in for all-sports, the conference football members could leave and maintain the Philadelphia market.

For 2015, the Big East is slotted for 13 football members. that number gives them a buffer should Louisville join the Big 12. The Big East also can reserve a 14th spot this way for another run at Air Force, given the addition of Navy along with the 2 western schools.

As for the conference membership:

2012:

8 football, *8 non-football members

UConn
Syracuse
Rutgers
Temple (football only)
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Louisville
USF
* Providence
* St. Johns
* Seton Hall
* Villanova
* Georgetown
* Notre Dame
* DePaul
* Marquette

2013:

14 football members, *8 non-football members

UConn
Syracuse
Rutgers
Temple
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Louisville
Memphis
UCF
USF
SMU
Houston
Boise St. (football only)
SDSU (football only)
* Providence
* St. Johns
* Seton Hall
* Villanova
* Georgetown
* Notre Dame
* DePaul
* Marquette

2014:

12 football members, 8 non-football members,

UConn
Rutgers
Temple
Cincinnati
Louisville
Memphis
UCF
USF
SMU
Houston
Boise St. (football only)
SDSU (football only)
* Providence
* St. Johns
* Seton Hall
* Villanova
* Georgetown
* Notre Dame
* DePaul
* Marquette

2015:

13 football members, 8 non-football members,

UConn
Rutgers
Temple
Navy (football only)
Cincinnati
Louisville
Memphis
UCF
USF
SMU
Houston
Boise St. (football only)
SDSU (football only)
* Providence
* St. Johns
* Seton Hall
* Villanova
* Georgetown
* Notre Dame
* DePaul
* Marquette