Butler changing conferences again

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It appears the Butler University athletic program is changing conferences again. 

A source tells WISH-TV, the Bulldogs will join the seven teams leaving the Big East – DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s, and Villanova – plus Xavier in a new conference.

According to CBS Sports.com, Big East presidents and athletic directors will meet in Atlanta on Friday to discuss when the seven teams can leave, plus a financial settlement in which the Catholic 7 would take the Big East name. 

The new league may begin play as early as next season.

The new conference appears to be on the fast track thanks to a television deal with Fox, which is launching a new cable network next fall. The deal will pay between $3 million and $4 million per school.

The new league is also expected to expand to 10 to 12 teams over the next couple of years. Creighton, Dayton, Richmond, Saint Louis, and VCU have all been considered.

WISH-TV has contacted Butler athletic officials, but they have yet to comment.

The Bulldogs are playing their first season in the Atlantic 10 after leaving the Horizon League last summer.