You could read the tea leaves last week when the West Virginia football team canceled a Sept. 8 game at Florida State, a move that will cost WVU $500,000. Why did the Mountaineers do it?

They originally had their 2012 schedule formatted for eight conference games as a Big East member (before TCU’s decision to join the Big 12). But if the Mountaineers join the Big 12 this fall, as they want to, they will have nine conference games and would have to drop one non-conference contest. Certainly WVU wasn’t going to drop a home non-conference game.

West Virginia has sued the Big East to be let out of its termination clause early to join the Big 12 for next season and it appears the sides are about to come to an agreement. Reportedly WVU will play the Big East anywhere from $11 million-$20 million to be let out early.

The Big 12 has already sent its 2012 schedule, with West Virginia on it, to its television partners and is expected to publicly release the schedule this week. One problem is that the Big East would be down to just seven football members for 2012 and WVU is trying to help lure a school to the conference early to keep it at eight and mitigate the damage.

Boise State, for example, is set to join the Big East in 2013, but would have to pay a $5 million buyout to leave the Mountain West Conference early – WVU could pay that as part of the settlement. Boise State, San Diego State, UCF, SMU, Houston and Memphis are scheduled to join the Big East in 2013 with Navy coming on board in 2015.

One odd scenario being discussed if the Big East can’t get an eighth team this year is that Rutgers and Syracuse would play a home-and-home series in a modern college football first. Of course the Orange also will be leaving the Big East eventually, heading to the ACC with Pittsburgh. Syracuse and Pitt can’t leave next season because the ACC schedule is set.

West Virginia would be the heavy favorite to win the Big East but would certainly have a tougher test in the Big 12 with Oklahoma expected to be loaded and Texas likely to improve. The Mountaineers are 30/1 on Bovada’s NCAA football futures odds to win the national title next season.

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