The Big East is a giant shitshow, mostly because schools with high quality athletic departments are bolting for greener pastures, leaving the conference with the scraps of Division I. Earlier today, it was announced that Tulane and ECU will be joining the Big East, with Tulane a full member and ECU in football only.

Thought colleges had finished frantically switching conferences and everyone was finally content where they were, confident that when the BCS shot its grand money cannon in their general direction, they’d scoop up their share of the scattered proceeds, rather than be killed instantly by the blow? Nonsense! The latest dominoes to fall: Maryland and Rutgers are heading to the Big Ten. What should you know about it? We break the big move down, after the jump.

When news broke last week that Florida State might join the Big 12, it was just another reminder that conference realignment will never end – there’s too much money on the line. But what if changing conferences became part of the college football system itself – like promotion and relegation in European soccer? it could work.

In terms of sports, last night will always be remembered as the night of Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. The tension, drama and storybook finish assure the game of instant-classic status. But were October 27, 2011 to be remembered for anything besides a Fall Classic classic, we’d vote for it as the night of news being sent out prematurely.

Remember when West Virginia was going to the Big 12? Well, earlier today, word got out that West Virginia wasn’t going to the Big 12 just yet. And the reason why is: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell?

Two things you need to know about UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma. One: phenomenal coach. One of the best ever, in any sport. He’s built what one could call a dynasty without exaggeration (look at the record), and for as long as he’s there, UConn will continue to be so. Two: he’s outspoken. Very outspoken.

Ugh. Conference realignment talk is quickly becoming the fall 2011 version of Brett Favre will-he-or-won’t-he talk. We’ve had more than enough of it, most of the talk isn’t about anything real, and even when it might be over, it’s never totally over. Right now we’re in a “might be over” stage thanks to last night’s news that the Pac-12 won’t be expanding any further (i.e. no 16-team megaconference that would leave the Big 12 in unsalvageable tatters). And now that the biggest domino (Texas) won’t fall, many are suspecting none of the smaller ones will, either, and things will stand pat for at least, like, five minutes.

Yesterday, the hot rumor was about Nebraska leaving the Big 12 for the Big 10, which still appears likely to happen. But it won’t be the first move – that distinction now belongs to Colorado, which today moved from the Big 12 to the Pac-10.