(AUDIO) UCONN to become FBS Independent in Football

Cover Image
Photo credit UCONN

Click the above image to listen to Jason & John on 92.9 FM ESPN discussing UCONN leaving the American Athletic Conference (7/26)

From Stadium Reporter Brett McMurphy, UCONN will become FBS Independent in Football:

UConn will become an FBS independent in football & reaches agreement with American, will pay $17 million exit fee to leave league & join Big East In Olympic sports on July 1, 2020

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 26, 2019

UConn will pay $17M to leave the AAC for Big East

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — The University of Connecticut has agreed to pay a $17 million exit fee to the American Athletic Conference, so the school can rejoin the Big East next year.

AAC bylaws stipulate any school seeking to leave the conference must give 27 months' notice and pay a $12 million fee, but the sides negotiated the higher fee for UConn to leave sooner.

UConn Athletic Director David Benedict in a statement Friday thanked AAC Mike Aresco and his staff for their professionalism during the transition process.

Aresco praised Benedict for helping the sides reach a "swift and amicable resolution."

The Huskies will join the Big East in all sports except football, men's and women's ice hockey and rowing.

UConn also announced Friday its football program will become an independent in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2020.

So far Memphis and the AAC will keep with it's current construct. More coverage of Memphis and the AAC live on 92.9 FM ESPN, Memphis' Sports Station.