NEWPORT, R.I. — There’s still a make-or-break TV deal to be negotiated this fall, the league’s football membership remains confusing to many and the person who is supposed to lead the conference through its latest crucial phase still hasn’t been chosen.

Other than that, it’s business as usual for the Big East as the league’s annual summer football meetings culminate with Tuesday's media day.

Oh, and there’s also the small matter of whether the league will have access to the new four-team playoff that begins in 2015. Automatic qualifiers to BCS games will be eliminated then, meaning the Big East — which will be a 13-team conference when the new system kicks in (it’s at eight now) — will likely be on the outside looking in.

Despite all of that, Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti is hopeful the Big East’s latest makeover will fortify a conference teetering on the brink of irrelevance.

“The league has taken a series of positive steps and there’s more opportunity to take positive steps ahead of it in its membership and its media negotiations,” he said.

To reset the membership situation: Temple was brought in to plug an immediate football hole after West Virginia bought its way out to join the Big 12. Pittsburgh and Syracuse are still members for this year; both leave for the ACC next year.

Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, Memphis, SMU and UCF will join the league next season, with the former two as football members only. Navy is scheduled to join for football only in 2015.

So now the biggest issue facing the league is the new TV deal.

Carousel-Rutgers-Sports-Logo.jpg

MORE COVERAGE OF RUTGERS FOOTBALL







• Rutgers Football stories and columns



• Rutgers Football photos



• Rutgers Football videos



ESPN’s exclusive 60-day negotiating window for a new TV deal with the league starts on Sept. 1. If no deal is reached, the league can essentially become a free agent on Nov. 1, making itself available to other bidders.

The Big East turned down a deal with ESPN that reportedly would have paid between $11 million and $13 million per team. The current deal is worth approximately $5 million a year to football schools.

“There’s no question (the new deal) will far exceed where we’re at,” Pernetti said. “The one thing that has proven itself out and continues to prove itself out — even with all the new media platforms — is that more people are watching live sports on TV than ever before and that the price for live sports rights continues to increase dramatically in every instance.

“If you’re a content provider, like the league is, that’s a good situation.”

Interestingly, Pernetti, who has an extensive TV background from his days at CBS, is not part of the committee negotiating the new deal.

Meanwhile, the commissioner’s search is ongoing, meaning the league’s new leader will be thrust into critical TV negotiations almost immediately. Joe Bailey, who is serving as interim commissioner, is scheduled to give a state of the league address today.

"I can't comment on the search," Pernetti said. "That's a question for the conference office."

Pernetti said he is optimistic the Big East will have a role in the new playoff system, though he said there's too much uncertainty about it because "there are more questions than answers at this point."

Tom Luicci: tluicci@starledger.com