Football-playing members of the Big East will continue without the seven basketball schools and are looking to keep the conference name.

This was announced by Big East commissioner Mike Aresco, who added that they may add another school in 2015.

"Our goal is to keep the name," Aresco said. "It's a great brand with a great name and has a great history."

St. John's, Seton Hall, Georgetown, Villanova, Providence, Marquette and DePaul--all which do not play football, will form their own conference and expressed an interest in retaining the Big East brand.

They are in negotiations to leave during 2014 and plan to add 3-5 more schools in their own conference, with Xavier, Dayton, Butler, Saint Louis, VCU and Creighton as candidates. A television deal is also being sought.

The Big East is expected to have 11 football teams when Navy joins for the 2015 season.

With its ESPN television contract ending, Aresco said a new deal for the conference might involve multiple networks.

He added that the SEC/Big East Challenge -- a 12-game slate pitting teams from the two conferences -- will not continue.

Copyright © 2013 The Miami Herald Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.