BIG EASTBOUND & UP

Congratulations TCU, you got exactly what you wanted.

According to Todd Kaufmann, of BleacherReport.com, Texas Christian University has officially accepted an invitation to join the Big East Conference during the 2012-2013 seasons in all sports.

It has been speculated for some time that the Horned Frogs wanted to join an automatic qualifying conference for a few months. There had also been rumors that the Big East was interested, but there were also rumors that TCU was interested in Conference USA as well.

After Utah left the Mountain West Conference for the Pac-10 and BYU left for independence, the rumors still never ceased that TCU wanted out despite the MWC's additions of Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada and possibly Hawai'i. TCU still knew that even though the conference had added these three or possibly four teams, it was not in the spotlight.

Now, what used to be the top of the MWC with Utah, BYU and TCU will now look like the top of the Western Athletic Conference with Boise State, Nevada and either Hawai'i or Fresno State. Not exactly what the MWC commissioner was hoping for when he brought Boise State on board.

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The Horned Frogs will now have a shot at an automatic BCS bid, something other small schools would kill for. Not only will this give the school a better shot at a bigger bowl game, but it will do wonders for their recruiting.

The Mountain West now needs to find one more school to add to the top of its list, unless it sent the invitation to the University of Hawai'i knowing full well that the Horned Frogs were on their way out.

If Hawai'i isn't replacing TCU, the University of Houston could make the rounds in the expansion rumor mill.