Report: Big East could change conference name as part of new TV deal

The Big East could look to change its name as part of a new television deal with ESPN. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Big East Conference might be looking for a new name in the wake of a brand new television deal with ESPN.

CBS Sports’ Jeremy Fowler reported that the conference discussed a name change as part of television negotiations with NBC Sports Network. NBC reportedly offered around $20 million per season for the conference’s television rights, but ESPN matched the offer.

The conference could then sell the name to the “Catholic 7″ schools —  DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Villanova — that are planning to break away from the conference to form their own league.

As Fowler points out, the conference’s name will likely hold little meaning to the teams set to make up the conference in the coming years. Tulane, Memphis and SMU are set to enter the conference. The “Big East” will have more of an old Conference USA look, and no football team in the conference’s 10-team 2014 roster has been a part of the league for more than nine years.