Big East presidents agreed in a meeting on Tuesday that it would be in their best interests to increase its football membership from eight to ten members, the conference said.

“Today, our Board of Directors affirmed a set of key strategic initiatives, including expansion, designed to enhance membership stability and maximize our value,” Big East commissioner John Marinatto said in a statement.

Marinatto said the conference will refrain from commenting further on the expansion process.

The Big East has previously inquired aboutVillanova’s interests in moving to the highest division of college football. The Wildcats are currently ranked third in the Top 25 Football Championship Series coaches’ poll. Additionally, Villanova is one of the 16 teams that already comprise the Big East’s basketball membership.

UCF, East Carolina, Memphis and Temple have all been mentioned in reports as possibilities for joining the conference.

The New York Post recently reported that the Big East could even be interested in moving west to TCU or Houston.

The Big East is currently the smallest BCS football conference. Officials did not say how expansion would affect the 16-team basketball alignment.

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North Carolina receiver Greg Little apologized Tuesday for his actions that led to the NCAA declaring him “permanently ineligible” amid an investigation into agent-related benefits.

Little released a statement through the school Tuesday, apologizing to teammates, coaches, alumni and fans for “letting them down” and said he was “terribly remorseful.”

“My situation should not take away from any of the team’s current accomplishments or future accomplishments,” Little said. “Now that I am no longer a part of the program, I hope my actions will not distract the team any longer.”

On Monday, the NCAA said Little and defensive end Robert Quinn each received gifts and travel accommodations, then lied about it in three separate interviews. The ruling came the same day the school kicked defensive tackle Marvin Austin off the team for similar reasons.

The NCAA probe launched over the summer and focused initially on whether Little and Austin received improper benefits, though it later expanded to include possible academic violations involving a tutor.

The decisions on Little, Quinn and Austin provided some resolution for the program regarding the most prominent names linked to the investigation, though the status of six players remains in question even as the Tar Heels (3-2) near the midway point of the season.

In addition, cornerback Kendric Burney — an NFL prospect who has yet to play this season — must serve one more game to complete an NCAA suspension for receiving improper benefits connected to trips. Other key contributors like safeties Deunta Williams (four games) and Da’Norris Searcy (three games), as well as tailback Shaun Draughn (one game) have missed time due to the probe.

Little and Austin were two of six players who decided to return for their senior seasons instead of pursuing an NFL career, while Quinn is a junior regarded as a first-round draft prospect. They were supposed to lead North Carolina’s resurgence this season, yet never even made it on the field.