MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia will leave the Big East to join the Big 12 Conference a source familiar with the situation told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The move is expected very soon, but an exact timetable is unclear.

The Mountaineers will replace Missouri, which is expected to withdraw to join the Southeastern Conference.

The move will end more than a month of uncertainty for the athletic department since the Big East was left scrambling for its future following the departure of Pitt and Syracuse last month.

West Virginia will become the 10th member of the Big 12, joining Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, TCU, Texas Tech and WVU.

The loss leaves the beleaguered Big East with just five football playing schools: Rutgers, Cincinnati, Louisville, Connecticut and South Florida.