(04-04-2022 03:21 PM)MagicKnightmare Wrote:  

(04-04-2022 01:54 PM)Noise Penalty Wrote:  In 2017 usf was the unanimous favorite to win the AAC. They started the season ranked and when UCF and usf met on Black Friday that year it was really a fight to the death. The winner would go on to host the AAC championship and a potential NY6 game, the loser would end up in the obscurity bowl. Had that game gone usf's way (and it was close) I am not so sure that UCF would be where it is now, and usf might be one of the new B12 teams. usf has some of the demographics that UCF has, TV market, big school, Florida recruiting etc. It had a name from the Big East. But from that day in 2017 usf has taken a complete nose dive on the field and UCF's brand rose at an amazing rate winning 40+ games in 4 years. Although the rise in UCF's brand started in 2007 with the on campus stadium, it really came down to one game to seal the fate of both programs. So yes, if usf had the on field performance instead of UCF they would be here in our place .

Meh. Even if usf had won that game, they would have still fallen on their faces in 2018. Strong was already driving the program into the ground at that point and got lucky with that team of Taggert recruits. Add in the lack of investment in facilities, it would just be another what if highlight like those 4 days in 2007 when they were ranked #2.

The 2017 National Title claim created a lot of name recognition for UCF. Whether or not the public supports the National Title is irrelevant because at the very least, you have heard of us.

We wouldn't have been such a strong realignment candidate if it wasn't for our name recognition and becoming more of a national brand.

If usf went on to win the black friday game, AAC title, and Peach bowl then this would have been an entirely different realignment conversation. Charlie Strong would have had better recruiting classes with a Peach Bowl victory on his resume.

Today, Gus Malzahn would probably be in the broadcast booth instead of coaching UCF.

2017 Black Friday game is probably the single most important game in our history.

(04-05-2022 09:51 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 07:10 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:42 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF all won football titles in the AAC and independent BYU has been on an upswing as of late.

I’m curious how much their recent success played into their selection. Sure they all have their own perks:

BYU: massive attendance, national fan base
UCF: giant school, Florida recruiting
Houston: important Texas market, SWC history
Cincinnati: Ohio recruiting

But let’s say one or more of these schools was in a slump. Or someone else was hot?

Could someone like Memphis or USF bumped one of these off the list?

I’m thinking Cincinnati is probably the most vulnerable.

Memphis is having their best decade of football in school history. There are other factors why they did not make the cut.

Since the decision was made, we have seen Memphis and usf stress the importance of an On Campus Stadium. Its apparent that the Big12 leadership informed both programs that the lack of an OCS demonstrated a lack of invest in athletics.

Memphis was in the conversation because of the on-field performance and tv market. They passed the first cut, the second cut was facilities with OCS being the determining factor.

I'll also throw in that politics may have been a factor. I doubt the Texas politicians would have sat idle if none of the Texas schools were added. Memphis was also transitioning Presidents and there could have been some ambiguity.

I feel like it was a choice between Houston and Memphis. In the end, Houston squeaked by with a victory.

Do you think there's pressure on UCLA, Pitt, or Miami to get their own stadiums?

(04-05-2022 01:06 PM)CYOWA Wrote:  

(04-05-2022 09:51 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 07:10 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:42 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF all won football titles in the AAC and independent BYU has been on an upswing as of late.

I’m curious how much their recent success played into their selection. Sure they all have their own perks:

BYU: massive attendance, national fan base
UCF: giant school, Florida recruiting
Houston: important Texas market, SWC history
Cincinnati: Ohio recruiting

But let’s say one or more of these schools was in a slump. Or someone else was hot?

Could someone like Memphis or USF bumped one of these off the list?

I’m thinking Cincinnati is probably the most vulnerable.

Memphis is having their best decade of football in school history. There are other factors why they did not make the cut.

Since the decision was made, we have seen Memphis and usf stress the importance of an On Campus Stadium. Its apparent that the Big12 leadership informed both programs that the lack of an OCS demonstrated a lack of invest in athletics.

Memphis was in the conversation because of the on-field performance and tv market. They passed the first cut, the second cut was facilities with OCS being the determining factor.

I'll also throw in that politics may have been a factor. I doubt the Texas politicians would have sat idle if none of the Texas schools were added. Memphis was also transitioning Presidents and there could have been some ambiguity.

I feel like it was a choice between Houston and Memphis. In the end, Houston squeaked by with a victory.

Do you think there's pressure on UCLA, Pitt, or Miami to get their own stadiums?

As someone who lives in south Florida, yes. I hear it all the time. Miami is in a mad scramble to build a stadium.

They even discussed tearing down a public high school to make room for a football stadium for the private university.

"Billionaire" John H. Ruiz has made it his personal mission to build Miami a stadium. Canes fans are tired of the Miami doesn't have facilities argument. They sincerely believe they can make it to the SEC with a Stadium of their own.

https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/billi...l-13490494

https://www.themiamihurricane.com/2022/0...ical-park/

(04-05-2022 01:35 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  

(04-05-2022 01:06 PM)CYOWA Wrote:  

(04-05-2022 09:51 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 07:10 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:42 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF all won football titles in the AAC and independent BYU has been on an upswing as of late.

I’m curious how much their recent success played into their selection. Sure they all have their own perks:

BYU: massive attendance, national fan base
UCF: giant school, Florida recruiting
Houston: important Texas market, SWC history
Cincinnati: Ohio recruiting

But let’s say one or more of these schools was in a slump. Or someone else was hot?

Could someone like Memphis or USF bumped one of these off the list?

I’m thinking Cincinnati is probably the most vulnerable.

Memphis is having their best decade of football in school history. There are other factors why they did not make the cut.

Since the decision was made, we have seen Memphis and usf stress the importance of an On Campus Stadium. Its apparent that the Big12 leadership informed both programs that the lack of an OCS demonstrated a lack of invest in athletics.

Memphis was in the conversation because of the on-field performance and tv market. They passed the first cut, the second cut was facilities with OCS being the determining factor.

I'll also throw in that politics may have been a factor. I doubt the Texas politicians would have sat idle if none of the Texas schools were added. Memphis was also transitioning Presidents and there could have been some ambiguity.

I feel like it was a choice between Houston and Memphis. In the end, Houston squeaked by with a victory.

Do you think there's pressure on UCLA, Pitt, or Miami to get their own stadiums?

As someone who lives in south Florida, yes. I hear it all the time. Miami is in a mad scramble to build a stadium.

They even discussed tearing down a public high school to make room for a football stadium for the private university.

"Billionaire" John H. Ruiz has made it his personal mission to build Miami a stadium. Canes fans are tired of the Miami doesn't have facilities argument. They sincerely believe they can make it to the SEC with a Stadium of their own.

https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/billi...l-13490494

https://www.themiamihurricane.com/2022/0...ical-park/

Not having an OCS didn’t seem to push the SEC away before: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-...story.html

(04-04-2022 03:21 PM)MagicKnightmare Wrote:  

(04-04-2022 01:54 PM)Noise Penalty Wrote:  In 2017 usf was the unanimous favorite to win the AAC. They started the season ranked and when UCF and usf met on Black Friday that year it was really a fight to the death. The winner would go on to host the AAC championship and a potential NY6 game, the loser would end up in the obscurity bowl. Had that game gone usf's way (and it was close) I am not so sure that UCF would be where it is now, and usf might be one of the new B12 teams. usf has some of the demographics that UCF has, TV market, big school, Florida recruiting etc. It had a name from the Big East. But from that day in 2017 usf has taken a complete nose dive on the field and UCF's brand rose at an amazing rate winning 40+ games in 4 years. Although the rise in UCF's brand started in 2007 with the on campus stadium, it really came down to one game to seal the fate of both programs. So yes, if usf had the on field performance instead of UCF they would be here in our place .

Meh. Even if usf had won that game, they would have still fallen on their faces in 2018. Strong was already driving the program into the ground at that point and got lucky with that team of Taggert recruits. Add in the lack of investment in facilities, it would just be another what if highlight like those 4 days in 2007 when they were ranked #2.

Maybe,

But that game vaulted us into the limelight. we are both in obscurity if we lose. But the OP asked if on field results were different would one of the teams be in. I say if usf has our success on field they are in instead of us.

(04-05-2022 10:11 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  

(04-04-2022 03:21 PM)MagicKnightmare Wrote:  

(04-04-2022 01:54 PM)Noise Penalty Wrote:  In 2017 usf was the unanimous favorite to win the AAC. They started the season ranked and when UCF and usf met on Black Friday that year it was really a fight to the death. The winner would go on to host the AAC championship and a potential NY6 game, the loser would end up in the obscurity bowl. Had that game gone usf's way (and it was close) I am not so sure that UCF would be where it is now, and usf might be one of the new B12 teams. usf has some of the demographics that UCF has, TV market, big school, Florida recruiting etc. It had a name from the Big East. But from that day in 2017 usf has taken a complete nose dive on the field and UCF's brand rose at an amazing rate winning 40+ games in 4 years. Although the rise in UCF's brand started in 2007 with the on campus stadium, it really came down to one game to seal the fate of both programs. So yes, if usf had the on field performance instead of UCF they would be here in our place .

Meh. Even if usf had won that game, they would have still fallen on their faces in 2018. Strong was already driving the program into the ground at that point and got lucky with that team of Taggert recruits. Add in the lack of investment in facilities, it would just be another what if highlight like those 4 days in 2007 when they were ranked #2.

The 2017 National Title claim created a lot of name recognition for UCF. Whether or not the public supports the National Title is irrelevant because at the very least, you have heard of us.

We wouldn't have been such a strong realignment candidate if it wasn't for our name recognition and becoming more of a national brand.

If usf went on to win the black friday game, AAC title, and Peach bowl then this would have been an entirely different realignment conversation. Charlie Strong would have had better recruiting classes with a Peach Bowl victory on his resume.

Today, Gus Malzahn would probably be in the broadcast booth instead of coaching UCF.

2017 Black Friday game is probably the single most important game in our history.

For us, yes. It changed a lot. But again, for usf. That was their peak. We barely beat Memphis the next week. Memphis probably stomps usf in the championship game. You can't assume that that swing results in them also beating Memphis and Auburn.

(04-05-2022 09:51 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 07:10 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:42 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF all won football titles in the AAC and independent BYU has been on an upswing as of late.

I’m curious how much their recent success played into their selection. Sure they all have their own perks:

BYU: massive attendance, national fan base
UCF: giant school, Florida recruiting
Houston: important Texas market, SWC history
Cincinnati: Ohio recruiting

But let’s say one or more of these schools was in a slump. Or someone else was hot?

Could someone like Memphis or USF bumped one of these off the list?

I’m thinking Cincinnati is probably the most vulnerable.

Memphis is having their best decade of football in school history. There are other factors why they did not make the cut.

Since the decision was made, we have seen Memphis and usf stress the importance of an On Campus Stadium. Its apparent that the Big12 leadership informed both programs that the lack of an OCS demonstrated a lack of invest in athletics.

Memphis was in the conversation because of the on-field performance and tv market. They passed the first cut, the second cut was facilities with OCS being the determining factor.

I'll also throw in that politics may have been a factor. I doubt the Texas politicians would have sat idle if none of the Texas schools were added. Memphis was also transitioning Presidents and there could have been some ambiguity.

I feel like it was a choice between Houston and Memphis. In the end, Houston squeaked by with a victory.

That’s not what the reports out of Houston said. It was a choice between stopping at 11 teams and adding Houston. That thread is still on the first page of this forum.

Of course it would have changed it. If USF had done what UCF had and UCF what USF did. USF likely would be going. Byu and cincy less so.

(03-30-2022 09:42 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF all won football titles in the AAC and independent BYU has been on an upswing as of late.

I’m curious how much their recent success played into their selection. Sure they all have their own perks:

BYU: massive attendance, national fan base
UCF: giant school, Florida recruiting
Houston: important Texas market, SWC history
Cincinnati: Ohio recruiting

But let’s say one or more of these schools was in a slump. Or someone else was hot?

Could someone like Memphis or USF bumped one of these off the list?

I’m thinking Cincinnati is probably the most vulnerable.

The NY6/CFP/BCS Narrative has always been the primer for teams on the move. It started when Utah won the Sugar Bowl and found themselves in the Pac 12. Similarly TCU cashed in their Rose Bowl success for the Big East - and then the Big 12.

All of the incoming Big 12 programs have that pedigree. UCF received the last Big East automatic bid and won their first Fiesta Bowl appearance (before their most recent run). Houston beat Florida State in the Peach Bowl (before taking down OU and Louisville - led by consecutive Heisman trophy winners in Baker and Lamar). Finally, Cincinnati did the impossible and made the CFP after 2 straight years undefeated.

EVERYTHING comes into play. Cincinnati and Houston are former power conference teams (Big East and SWC). BYU is a former National Champion. UCF is the team that pushed the CFP expansion narrative more than any other.

For all of those teams to be attainable in one expansion is a minor miracle, since they are all capable of annual Top 25 caliber seasons, given their pedigree and location.