PHILADELPHIA — Villanova's national championship football program could be Big East bound.

The Wildcats would have all of their varsity sports programs under the Big East banner if they accept an invitation to join the conference. The Big East has informed the Wildcats that it wants to add them to the conference.

Villanova President Peter Donohue wrote a letter to Villanova alumni saying the university will evaluate the opportunity. There was no comment from the Big East.

"This is a complicated issue with numerous, multidimensional factors that come into play, and it is important that we investigate scenarios related to making — or not making — such a move," Donohue wrote.

Donohue did not say when the program would make a decision, but it won't be until the board of trustees "conducts a careful and complete analysis" of all the factors. Among the decisions would include upgrading their football stadium or finding somewhere else to play.

Villanova won the FCS national championship last year and would move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Big East has eight teams and adding a ninth would lessen some of the scheduling issues that arise each season. The Wildcats currently play in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Villanova has been part of the Big East basketball conference since 1980.

The Wildcats have played at the second-tier level since 1985 and rejected an earlier offer to join the Big East in 1997. Connecticut accepted an invitation that season to start the process to move up to what was known as Division I-A.

"The reasoning then I think was financial and stadium issues, and I don't know if there's a difference now," athletic director Vince Nicastro said.

The team plays in the 12,000-seat Villanova Stadium — a capacity below the mandate of a 15,000 per-home-game average to stay an FBS program.