NEW YORK (AP) - Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco says the conference was ``unwilling'' to cut Boise State the deal the Mountain West did to lure the Broncos back.

Aresco told The Associated Press the Big East worked hard to keep Boise State from breaking its commitment to join the league as a football-only member in 2013, but could not find a way.

Aresco says he will be speaking with San Diego State officials in the coming days and that he hoped to know soon if the Aztecs would be following Boise State's lead and returning to the Mountain West before ever competing in the Big East.

He added he has been given assurances by SMU and Houston, also slated to join the Big East in 2013, that they are still committed.