Husted urges Big East to consider University of Dayton for membership

WASHINGTON - Sens. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) today sent a letter to Big East Conference Commissioner Val Ackerman urging the conference to consider adding the University of Dayton and Saint Louis University as members.

Husted holds both a bachelor's degree and master's degree from the University of Dayton. He was an All-American defensive back and helped lead the Flyers to their 1989 Division III National Championship.

"As former collegiate student-athletes, we have been deeply involved in the conversations regarding the challenges facing intercollegiate athletics, as well as the possibility of Congressional action on the issue. Amidst these conversations, it is increasingly clear that schools with shared values, academic priorities and comparable resource models are best served by governing collectively and competing within the same conference," the senators wrote.

"As alumni and fans of these two universities, we write to respectfully encourage the Big East Conference to consider Saint Louis University (SLU) and the University of Dayton (UD) for membership, given their strong alignment with the Big East's institutional mission, competitive athletic profiles and long-term strategic interests in the evolving collegiate athletics landscape," they continued.

"Both Saint Louis University and the University of Dayton share the core institutional values that have long defined the Big East: they are mission-driven universities with deep commitments to academic excellence, community engagement and the holistic development of student-athletes. These Jesuit and Marianist universities would also add to the rich Catholic legacy that the Big East and its members have cultivated," added the policymakers.

"Equally important, both institutions enhance the Big East's media and market footprint. Saint Louis represents one of the nation's largest and most influential sports markets (24th DMA), with no NBA team, offering meaningful opportunities for media exposure, corporate partnerships and alumni engagement. Dayton has shown an exceptional ability to punch above its weight in attendance, ranking 15^th in average attendance in 2024-2025 while selling out the entire season for the fourth consecutive year, and postseason competitiveness, an attribute that has long been a hallmark of successful Big East programs," they wrote.

"In an era defined by realignment pressures and shifting national dynamics, the Big East's strength has been its cohesive identity, competitive balance and institutional alignment. Saint Louis University and the University of Dayton would reinforce that model. Both schools bring stability, tradition and a demonstrated commitment to excellence that would strengthen the conference's position as the premier basketball-focused league in collegiate athletics," concluded the senators.

The full letter is here.