Is change finally coming to college football?

Commissioner John Marinatto said Wednesday the Big East is open to the possibility of a four-team playoff, his first public comments on the topic. In recent days, it was reported that Big Ten athletic directors would begin exploring the idea of a four-team playoff. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany even suggested the semifinal round could be hosted at campus sites.

"We've actually had the discussion of what was publicly discussed in the last couple of days, I guess Jim, sharing with several people, the concept of a four-team playoff," Marinatto said on a conference call.

"Our membership hasn't had a chance to sit down and talk about that with everything else going on. I think we would be open to that concept at this point. We haven't fleshed out the details of what that would mean, how it would be figured. It's probably very premature for us at this stage anyway before our colleagues and I get together later on in February to talk about all of the prospects.

"As we've stated in the past we're open to all of the things that are on the table and being discussed today. Once we actually sit down and talk about the details, we'll determine what our formal position is."

All you need to take away from his quote is "open to that concept." When SEC commissioner Mike Slive suggested the idea of a playoff back in 2008, the Big East and Big Ten voted against it. But with Delany now open to the idea, it should come as no surprise that others are falling in line.

A few other notes from Marinatto on the Memphis call today:

• We got a bunch of no comments when he was asked about adding another team for 2012; when the league would release its schedule; and how much longer until a resolution with West Virginia.
• Marinatto said it is his expectation that the Big East would hold its first Big East championship game in 2015, when Navy joins the league.
• The Big East is done with expansion for now. "It was our goal, as I said, to get to 12 football playing members, and we've done that. We're obviously pleased that we fulfilled our primary objective. But we're always going to be vigilant and we're going to continue to do whatever is in the best interest of the conference."
• The topic of two six-team divisions for football will be addressed in a coming meeting of athletic directors.
• When asked whether the addition of schools could mean allowing Syracuse and Pitt to leave earlier than the 27-month waiting period, Marinatto said, "West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse are members of the Big East Conference, as I've stated many times, until July 1st of 2014. I really can't comment further than that at this point."