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USF and UCF, league rivals?

With UCF considering membership in C-USA or Big East, the pairing could become a reality.

South Florida and Central Florida soon may have one more thing in common: the same conference.

The two schools of more than 40,000 students each in booming Florida cities with young Division I-A football programs separated by about two hours on I-4 could become members of the same league, either Conference USA or the Big East.

UCF athletic director Steve Orsini told the Times that UCF, which is a football-only member of the Mid-American Conference, is negotiating with the Big East for a football-only membership and with C-USA for full membership. UCF also is considering a full membership invitation from the MAC.

"We are in discussions with the Big East unofficially, through associates gathering information and sharing information. No offer has been extended," Orsini said. "We also are in discussion with Conference USA. ... The invitation from the MAC becomes effective once the Big East has made a decision about what it is doing. The MAC was respectful of the national progression taking place."

USF athletic director Lee Roy Selmon has not returned phone calls this week. USF, a charter member of C-USA, began playing football in the conference this season. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese indicated Sunday that USF is his choice to join the Big East, with Cincinnati and Louisville, to replace Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech.

Orsini believes the value of USF and UCF increases if they are packaged together, and Tranghese has indicated adding both might be better than adding one because of the rivalry potential.

"I think it's similar to Louisville and Cincinnati," Orsini said. "They're similar schools within a similar geographic area. UCF and USF are a very similar situation. I think it makes a lot of sense, looking at packages.

"The geographic area that includes Tampa and Orlando is a very valuable commodity for any conference if paired together. We are the 15th-largest university in enrollment, we are (in the) 20th-largest TV market. Couple that with USF's 13th-largest TV market (Tampa/St. Petersburg/Sarasota), and I know USF is right behind UCF in (enrollment). Those are all positives."

If USF remains in C-USA, the Bulls soon could be joined by UCF. C-USA has indicated it will add schools if it loses some to the Big East. Besides Cincinnati and Louisville, non-football C-USA members Marquette and DePaul are expected to jump to the Big East, helping the Big East to become the nation's top basketball conference. UCF is among several candidates to replenish C-USA, along with Marshall, Tulsa, SMU and Rice.

After years of speculation, in May the Bulls and Knights finally scheduled football games for 2005 and 2006. They could become conference games depending on how things shake out.

USF, which is 20-7 since joining Division I-A in 2001, has been more successful on the field. The Bulls are 3-2 this season, highlighted by a 31-28 overtime win against Louisville. UCF is 45-39 since ascending to I-A in 1996 and 2-4 this season. USF is the better candidate for full Big East membership in part because of its better all-around athletic programs. Orsini said UCF would accept a partial Big East membership with the intent that it lead to a full membership later.