(01-10-2020 09:51 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Reminder, the terms of the Big East/UConn contract state "that UConn will be responsible for paying the conference $30 million if it withdraws within the first six years of membership." If the school leaves "within a three-year period after that, $15 million is owed." After 10 years, UConn would owe $10 million. Now, if UConn gets a P5 invite, where it could conceivably be making anywhere from $30-$50 million annually at the peak of new payouts, four payments totaling $30 million (or $15, or $10) are necessary expenses to make that work.

What remains today, however, still was the case in 2010. UConn is not a power football program; it lacks high-level consistency, history of success, recruiting/viewing market and, perhaps most importantly, is not viewed as a peer by the P5 (much like how everyone in the G5 has been and presently viewed). It simply does not move the needle on its own (unlike every single P5 invitation from 2010-2013). Their independent route, which so many viewed as unlikely, is a pivot into a selective and unique category moving forward, where they are clearly not a P5 program, but, now, they have qualities that don't really make them a true G5 either. All of this is icing on the cake since basketball returns to an elite-level conference with historical (and geographic) affiliations, and other Olympic sports (like soccer, lacrosse and baseball) are, too, benefited.

In summary, UConn will continue to have a door to leave for the P5, and leave if given the opportunity. However, the likelihood of such a move remains very low, and the Big East is in a position where it has proven it can be a top basketball conference without UConn. The reunion of the Big East and UConn will be a strong association moving forward that will immensely benefit both parties. I don't see either side separating for a long time.