Pittsburgh (KDKA)- With Pitt and Syracuse heading to the ACC, can the Big East Conference survive?

The leaders of the remaining schools will reportedly meet tonight in New York City to discuss their future.

Presidents and athletic directors from Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers, South Florida and West Virginia will be discussing how the conference can survive.

Much criticized Big East commissioner John Marinatto also is expected to attend.

The only way that it appears the Big East can survive is if the Big 12 folds and it merges with their remaining members.

The conference would look towards schools such as Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State to fill the void left by Pitt, Syracuse and possibly UConn and Rutgers.

West Virginia apparently was looking to leave the conference as well but was rejected by both the ACC and SEC conferences.

The SEC instead has interest in Missouri and has reportedly extended that school an invitation.