(10-06-2017 12:36 PM)tigerjamesc Wrote:  

(10-06-2017 12:18 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  There's often discussions about the most underperforming P5 programs...those programs with money, fans, tradition, and recruiting that can rarely or never get over the top. The list always ends up with some combination of Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, and a handful of others. We're not talking about the Iowa States and Mississippi States of the world, even if those programs have been gifted far more than they ever have achieved (or will achieve despite all those boons).

So accepting that the G5 has a lot more limitations and it's very difficult to consistently dominate a league since most G5 programs have to reload occasionally, we can nevertheless still point to some underperforming programs. What are some G5 programs that should be winning their conference consistently and competing with the P5 that for whatever reason don't?

Until the past few years, San Diego State comes to my mind. They're in a rich recruiting area with a major metro area unto themselves, yet they were rarely a top program in the WAC or MWC. They've really come on lately and may get the NY6 bid this year, so we'll see if it's a flash in the pan.

But what are some others?

UCONN- highest budget, least return. They do less with more than any other G5 school. They had years of CFB welfare and have great tradition in basketball. Now, both are underperforming. Considering budgets, history, subsidies from the state, they have more advantages than any other G5 and have failed to consistently perform.

Maybe it is because Memphis is killing the RPI for most teams in the league? LOL

Anyway, the UConn men won their last championship in 2014 (their four championships in the last 20 years are more than any other school in that period). The UConn women practically win the championship every year.

As for football, UConn was in the Fiesta Bowl in 2010 and hasn't been great since then. That said, Memphis was historically horrible up until about three years ago. Memphis also has yet to be in a NY6 bowl.

The only teams in the AAC that are getting anything done are UConn in bball and Houston and UCF in football. No other AAC schools can lay claim to any real achievements.