06-28-2022, 07:50 AM
The new CUSA places the Aggies in the same conference as I-10 rival UTEP for the first time since the two schools were in the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, also known as the Border Conference, in 1962.
CUSA is a significant upgrade from the WAC as a basketball conference, both in terms of program sizes and funding and in overall quality of conference opponents. Kenpom, which ranks all 358 men's college basketball teams by adjusted efficiency margin, ranks the average C-USA team 163, assuming the conference does not gain or lose another school before 2023. The current 13-member WAC's average Kenpom ranking is 217.
The potential nine-team CUSA, will likely be led by Louisiana Tech, Liberty, WKU and New Mexico State from a basketball standpoint. NMSU's $3.3 million men's basketball budget ranks third behind Liberty's $3.5 million budget and UTEP. All four schools have enjoyed at least four consecutive winning seasons, and WKU, Louisiana Tech and Liberty have won at least 20 games in each of their last three campaigns.
The move to C-USA also guarantees NMSU will play UTEP at least twice per year as a conference foe. The two schools have played regularly since the series began in 1914-15, and NMSU leads the all-time series 117-104.
Last year, CUSA received $17 million from the CFP (more than 1M per team) to be distributed. New Mexico State received a minimum distribution of 300K for the football team's Academic Progress Rating. The current television deal for C-USA is among the worst in the G5, but the CUSA TV deal does distribute 500K per school and that is greater than New Mexico State's current deal, which is a minimal amount with the WAC for Olympic sports.
The move will cost NMSU a $1.5 million entry fee to join CUSA. The school will make an initial payment of $250K next year and then will make equal payments of $250K spread out of five years and that money will be taken out of future revenues generated. NMSU will also have to pay the WAC an $85K exit fee.
CUSA is a significant upgrade from the WAC as a basketball conference, both in terms of program sizes and funding and in overall quality of conference opponents. Kenpom, which ranks all 358 men's college basketball teams by adjusted efficiency margin, ranks the average C-USA team 163, assuming the conference does not gain or lose another school before 2023. The current 13-member WAC's average Kenpom ranking is 217.
The potential nine-team CUSA, will likely be led by Louisiana Tech, Liberty, WKU and New Mexico State from a basketball standpoint. NMSU's $3.3 million men's basketball budget ranks third behind Liberty's $3.5 million budget and UTEP. All four schools have enjoyed at least four consecutive winning seasons, and WKU, Louisiana Tech and Liberty have won at least 20 games in each of their last three campaigns.
The move to C-USA also guarantees NMSU will play UTEP at least twice per year as a conference foe. The two schools have played regularly since the series began in 1914-15, and NMSU leads the all-time series 117-104.
Last year, CUSA received $17 million from the CFP (more than 1M per team) to be distributed. New Mexico State received a minimum distribution of 300K for the football team's Academic Progress Rating. The current television deal for C-USA is among the worst in the G5, but the CUSA TV deal does distribute 500K per school and that is greater than New Mexico State's current deal, which is a minimal amount with the WAC for Olympic sports.
The move will cost NMSU a $1.5 million entry fee to join CUSA. The school will make an initial payment of $250K next year and then will make equal payments of $250K spread out of five years and that money will be taken out of future revenues generated. NMSU will also have to pay the WAC an $85K exit fee.