Great find. UConn has two choices, neither of which is constrained by its agreement with the Big East.

First, it can notify the AAC of its intent to leave in 27 months, which would put them on schedule to move to the Big East effective October 1, 2021 and play the 2021-22 school year in the Big East. This is the approach Syracuse took when leaving the Big East. Under this "Syracuse approach," UConn could then seek to negotiate early withdrawal to move to the Big East for the 2020-21 school year. Clearly there is some amount that the AAC would accept. Syracuse paid an incremental $5 million to leave one year earlier than provided in the notice. This would also give UConn the chance to negotiate to remain in the AAC in football for the 2020 season, which would be the default under the 27 month notice.

Second, UConn could notify the AAC that it is leaving on July 1 or September 1, 2020 in breach of the notice requirement. This is the approach that West Virginia took when it withdrew from the Big East. This would force the AAC to sue UConn for damages for violating the notice provisions. This approach would probably put UConn in better negotiating position with respect to any incremental exit fee over and above the base $10 million. Unlike West Virginia back in 2011, UConn leaving early would probably not do much harm to the AAC, particularly if UConn offered to remain in the conference for football for the 2020 season. However, it would give UConn less leverage in negotiations with the AAC to play football in the AAC in 2020. UConn needs to know pretty quickly whether it needs to build an independent 2020 football schedule.

I expect we'll find out within the next week, possibly even today, as the notice of withdrawal will pretty much spell out which option UConn has selected.