(05-27-2015 10:06 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote: I've longed thought that a coast-to-coast football-only "best of the rest" conference ought to be considered.
However, BYU is now the white whale for the G5 conferences in the way Notre Dame has been a white whale for the P5 conferences. There simply is no viable plan to convince BYU to join a G5 conference at this point no matter what money numbers are thrown out there - they're either going to be independent or P5 for branding purposes. Like I've said here before, being independent allows BYU to brand themselves as "special" in a way that even many other P5 schools aren't able to do (i.e. "We have the power to be independent in a way that Utah can't!"), whereas joining a G5 conference unambiguously cements second-class status in their minds. Second-class status simply isn't an option even if there's an increase in TV money by joining a G5 league (which, to be sure, isn't even the case right now). As a result, any realistic G5 conference realignment plan should NOT include BYU (which inherently changes the financial attractiveness of that realignment), just as any realistic P5 conference realignment plan should NOT include Notre Dame.
I'm in the substantial minority of BYU fans who wouldn't mind to see BYU as part of a new, expanded American conference. Most of the recent BYU v. AAC games have been exciting and competitive. I'm looking forward to the matchups with Cincinnati and ECU this year. I would like to see BYU and Boise St. in the American.
But, I must agree that the vast majority of BYU fans and the BYU administration see P5-ness as the only alternative to independence right now.
BYU and American teams need to continue to schedule each other. As mentioned, the games have been exciting and competitive. They can help each other to get on TV on better channels and in better timeslots. Plus, they can help each other improve their bowl prospects.
With that said, I still think the American needs to expand westward.
What about this?
EAST
Cincinnati
UConn
ECU
Temple
UCF
USF
Tulane
Memphis
WEST
Houston
Navy
SMU
Tulsa
Air Force
Army
Boise St.
SDSU/Fresno St.
(Or, with 16 teams, you separate into 4 scheduling pods - with Navy and Army w/ SMU and Houston)
This still lands the military trifecta (great for the conference brand) and the best G5 TV ratings by far.
Then, the American and BYU continue their informal "quasi-affiliation" to get 4 or 5 games each year, including 2 or 3 of those games in AAC stadiums. If desired, I am certain the BYU would consider an Olympic sports membership in this conference, if it included AFA, Boise, and SDSU/Fresno.
The American TV deal will definitely increase the per team payout upon renewal regardless, but this expansion will attract many of the dollars that the networks would otherwise have spent on MWC inventory - mainly because of Boise St., but also because of the military synergies and the affiliation with BYU (2 or 3 home games v. BYU now part of AAC TV deal).
Then, secure the following Bowl lineup (where BYU can be selected for non-Access bowls within certain limitations):
NY6 Bowl
Military v. ACC
Las Vegas v. P12
Birmingham v. SEC
Armed Forces v. B1G
St. Petersburg v. CUSA/ACC
Poinsettia v. MWC
Miami Beach v. CUSA
Hawaii v. MWC
Boca Raton v. MAC
Cure v. Sun Belt
Austin v. Sun Belt
(NY6 and 5 eastern, 3 western, and 3 central bowl games)