Reading lately and wondering if the AAC will take a serious look at UMass. then started thinking does it really matter? It seems the AAC is going to be left behind too. Is there a strategy? I always wondered if the power 5 tried to split completely from the NCAA there may be some problems with the universities retaining their not for profit status which is a big deal. Either way i'm pretty convinced that no matter how you look at it the AAC is stuck with the bottom tier, what is the plan for moving up?

The AAC champ is almost always going to be in one of the big bowls considering how bad CUSA, Sunbelt, and MAC are. That will be good enough until they expand the playoff.

(01-11-2014 03:13 AM)CoogNellie Wrote:  The AAC champ is almost always going to be in one of the big bowls considering how bad CUSA, Sunbelt, and MAC are. That will be good enough until they expand the playoff.

Not going to disagree with you as I think the AAC is, indeed, well positioned to take this presuming a stellar record by their conference champion, but if Northern Illinois had won their conference game this year , you might have been on the outside looking in if you didn't have the automatic qualificaton. I'm NOT saying Northern Illinois was better than UCF (far from it, it seems.) But with a win in their CCG, it is likely the Huskies would have remained two spots ahead of the Knights in any rankings, and it would have been up to the selection committee. UCF certainly had quality wins, but so did NI. Hard to say what would have happened.

In short, any undefeated team from any of the G5 conferences might have a shot, but that's hard for any team to do. Remember, there was only one undefeated team in any 1A conference this year. So it might depend on which conference champion survives in-conference battles, which are always tough.

(01-11-2014 03:13 AM)CoogNellie Wrote:  The AAC champ is almost always going to be in one of the big bowls considering how bad CUSA, Sunbelt, and MAC are. That will be good enough until they expand the playoff.

For now, the AAC and MWC seem to have a slight edge over C-USA on the field. But don't be mistaken. If you look at how the teams that will be in the AAC finished this season, only UCF separated themselves from the top teams in C-USA, and they lose most of their best players. Maybe they can reload. I don't know the team that well. Chances are there will be a drop off. The MWC is also trending down. Boise isn't the team they used to be. Fresno didn't live up to expectations either.

C-USA is not bad. Just like the AAC, 3 of our returning teams finished this season with 9 wins or more. The MWC only had 2 teams do that. As a conference we went 3-3 in our bowl games, posting wins over new BIG10 team Maryland and a blowout of MWC's UNLV, which was our only bowl match-up with the MWC.

When looking at bowl records and assigning them to next seasons line-ups thing look interesting.

C-USA
2-2
Wins- Marshall, North Texas
Loses- Rice, MTSU

AAC
2-3
Wins- #12 UCF, ECU
Loses- Houston, Cincinnati, Tulane

MWC
3-3
Wins- SDSU, Utah State, Colorado State
Loses- Fresno State, Boise State, UNLV

Of all the teams in the 3 conferences, only UCF of the AAC finished the season ranked in the coaches poll, while Cincinnati and ECU received votes. In the MWC Fresno received votes. In C-USA Marshall and North Texas received votes.

I'd say starting next season, any conference could win the G5 spot.

Can someone speak to UMass' block to the Big East and maybe now the AAC because of UConn? From what I've read and heard over the years, UConn is to UMass what BC is to UConn.

Not that extreme and do not believe UConn would block UMass from the AAC. It would add a nice rival. Did UConn try to sue BC for moving to the ACC. There is some strong hate.

(01-11-2014 03:13 AM)CoogNellie Wrote:  The AAC champ is almost always going to be in one of the big bowls considering how bad CUSA, Sunbelt, and MAC are. That will be good enough until they expand the playoff.

Yeah right.....lol. There is no way a 1 or 2 loss AAC team will trump an undefeated team from the Mac or CUSA. Just not going to happen. Besides...the Marquee school in the AAC (Louisville) is gone. Without Louisville, the American isn't much better than CUSA or the Mac. Lets not forget that UCF did what they did with CUSA recruits.

(01-11-2014 03:13 AM)CoogNellie Wrote:  The AAC champ is almost always going to be in one of the big bowls considering how bad CUSA, Sunbelt, and MAC are. That will be good enough until they expand the playoff.

Its not a guarantee. In 2012, the AAC would not be playing in the access bowl, as NIU would be. And you forgot about the MWC.

I understand why the UMass would want in the AAC but I am having a hard time understanding why the AAC would want UMass. They aren't in a market that is super excited about college football, nor do they have a large regional or national following, and have no history of FBS success (I know they have only been FBS for less than five years). Until UMass starts winning and getting a big following, they seem rather unattractive as an AAC target.

(01-11-2014 03:13 AM)CoogNellie Wrote:  The AAC champ is almost always going to be in one of the big bowls considering how bad CUSA, Sunbelt, and MAC are. That will be good enough until they expand the playoff.

You are assuming that the winner of the conference can get through without a loss or two. It we use the old C-USA as an example, it is unlikely. As good as Louisville, USM, Houston, TCU, ECU, USF, Tulsa, etc... could be at times, I think Tulane is the only one who got through without a loss.

I have a feeling, we are going to be good teams but struggle to find great teams.

(01-11-2014 10:00 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 03:13 AM)CoogNellie Wrote:  The AAC champ is almost always going to be in one of the big bowls considering how bad CUSA, Sunbelt, and MAC are. That will be good enough until they expand the playoff.

Yeah right.....lol. There is no way a 1 or 2 loss AAC team will trump an undefeated team from the Mac or CUSA. Just not going to happen. Besides...the Marquee school in the AAC (Louisville) is gone. Without Louisville, the American isn't much better than CUSA or the Mac. Lets not forget that UCF did what they did with CUSA recruits.

Both UCF and Marshall were MAC teams.

Regarding the Liberty Flame post, we need to sell-out McGuirk and then have McGuirk expansion in the works. Hope we can be competitive against BC on Aug 30, but check out the game and attendance numbers. In 2011, UConn had over 35k for a mid-week game against us. Football drives the bus, but we have been in the NIT most years recently, currently ranked and should be dancing this year.

(01-11-2014 10:00 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 03:13 AM)CoogNellie Wrote:  The AAC champ is almost always going to be in one of the big bowls considering how bad CUSA, Sunbelt, and MAC are. That will be good enough until they expand the playoff.

Yeah right.....lol. There is no way a 1 or 2 loss AAC team will trump an undefeated team from the Mac or CUSA. Just not going to happen. Besides...the Marquee school in the AAC (Louisville) is gone. Without Louisville, the American isn't much better than CUSA or the Mac. Lets not forget that UCF did what they did with CUSA recruits.

Well, let's see. Rice curb stomped Marshall in the CUSA Conference Championship game and the 4th place team from the ACC knocked off Rice at home. Not to mention CUSA loses 2 of its better schools from last year (ECU, Tulane) as well as one of its best performers over the long term (Tulsa). Those three are replaced by W Kentucky and 2 FCS startups. I'd say there is still a decent gap between CUSA and the AAC. The average computer ratings show a huge difference. I'm sure CUSA will get better over time, but it could be a while.

(01-11-2014 11:09 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 10:00 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 03:13 AM)CoogNellie Wrote:  The AAC champ is almost always going to be in one of the big bowls considering how bad CUSA, Sunbelt, and MAC are. That will be good enough until they expand the playoff.

Yeah right.....lol. There is no way a 1 or 2 loss AAC team will trump an undefeated team from the Mac or CUSA. Just not going to happen. Besides...the Marquee school in the AAC (Louisville) is gone. Without Louisville, the American isn't much better than CUSA or the Mac. Lets not forget that UCF did what they did with CUSA recruits.

Well, let's see. Rice curb stomped Marshall in the CUSA Conference Championship game and the 4th place team from the ACC knocked off Rice at home. Not to mention CUSA loses 2 of its better schools from last year (ECU, Tulane) as well as one of its best performers over the long term (Tulsa). Those three are replaced by W Kentucky and 2 FCS startups. I'd say there is still a decent gap between CUSA and the AAC. The average computer ratings show a huge difference. I'm sure CUSA will get better over time, but it could be a while.

Got to be honest though Coog...WKU, and ODU both would likely have no problem handling Memphis, Temple or USF. FAU kicked the crap out of USF earlier in the season and FAU didnt even get to a bowl game. WKU and ODU would also be very competitive with UConn. And now with Louisville gone, the difference between the two conferences are minimal at best. I think you can agree with that.

Basketball no comparision. AAC wins hands down.

Football....not a whole lot of difference with Louisville gone.

CUSA becomes a poor man's A10 with programs like ODU, Charlotte, WKU, and MTSU. Add UTEP, UAB, and USM, and it's not that bad a conference for hoops. UMass would definitely beef up the hoops further. Maybe even make it a consistent multi-bid conference?

(01-11-2014 11:28 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  CUSA becomes a poor man's A10 with programs like ODU, Charlotte, WKU, and MTSU. Add UTEP, UAB, and USM, and it's not that bad a conference for hoops. UMass would definitely beef up the hoops further. Maybe even make it a consistent multi-bid conference?

...sure...the more the merrier I say...

(01-11-2014 11:28 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  CUSA becomes a poor man's A10 with programs like ODU, Charlotte, WKU, and MTSU. Add UTEP, UAB, and USM, and it's not that bad a conference for hoops. UMass would definitely beef up the hoops further. Maybe even make it a consistent multi-bid conference?

There is no doubt that CUSA has a good future in basketball with the schools you mentioned above. I was just merely stating that CUSA is further behind in basketball compared to the American. In football the gap is very small.

(01-11-2014 11:44 AM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 11:28 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  CUSA becomes a poor man's A10 with programs like ODU, Charlotte, WKU, and MTSU. Add UTEP, UAB, and USM, and it's not that bad a conference for hoops. UMass would definitely beef up the hoops further. Maybe even make it a consistent multi-bid conference?

...sure...the more the merrier I say...

That's fair for football, but when did basketball become so lost in the conversation? More bids, more money. Football is like hedge funds and derivatives. Hoops are IRAs and bonds.

(01-11-2014 12:03 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 11:44 AM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 11:28 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  CUSA becomes a poor man's A10 with programs like ODU, Charlotte, WKU, and MTSU. Add UTEP, UAB, and USM, and it's not that bad a conference for hoops. UMass would definitely beef up the hoops further. Maybe even make it a consistent multi-bid conference?

...sure...the more the merrier I say...

That's fair for football, but when did basketball become so lost in the conversation? More bids, more money. Football is like hedge funds and derivatives. Hoops are IRAs and bonds.

...and as a 'basketball-centric' program (generally) - I think UAB can benefit from a few more solid Bball programs... although losing Memphis is rough, bringing in WKU, Charlotte, and ODU will help the bball side in the long run, as they are all pretty solid programs, on average. Umass would bolster that even further.

(01-11-2014 11:59 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 11:28 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  CUSA becomes a poor man's A10 with programs like ODU, Charlotte, WKU, and MTSU. Add UTEP, UAB, and USM, and it's not that bad a conference for hoops. UMass would definitely beef up the hoops further. Maybe even make it a consistent multi-bid conference?

There is no doubt that CUSA has a good future in basketball with the schools you mentioned above. I was just merely stating that CUSA is further behind in basketball compared to the American. In football the gap is very small.

The gap in football is lot bigger than you think. USF and UConn had historically bad season last year. The American and Mountain West are real contenders for the access bowl spot each season. There might be a year or two when undefeated MAC or C-USA might get consideration but I think the selection committee is going to pick between the likely champions of both leagues which will likely be UCF, USF, UConn, Cincinnati, ECU, Houston, Fresno State, and Boise State over any MAC, C-USA, or Sun Belt.

(01-11-2014 12:10 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 11:59 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-11-2014 11:28 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  CUSA becomes a poor man's A10 with programs like ODU, Charlotte, WKU, and MTSU. Add UTEP, UAB, and USM, and it's not that bad a conference for hoops. UMass would definitely beef up the hoops further. Maybe even make it a consistent multi-bid conference?

There is no doubt that CUSA has a good future in basketball with the schools you mentioned above. I was just merely stating that CUSA is further behind in basketball compared to the American. In football the gap is very small.

The gap in football is lot bigger than you think. USF and UConn had historically bad season last year. The American and Mountain West are real contenders for the access bowl spot each season. There might be a year or two when undefeated MAC or C-USA might get consideration but I think the selection committee is going to pick between the likely champions of both leagues which will likely be UCF, USF, UConn, Cincinnati, ECU, Houston, Fresno State, and Boise State over any MAC, C-USA, or Sun Belt.

No its really not that much bigger. The part you have to understand is this......there's not going to be a "selection committee" to "pick" who gets that final BCS spot. The final BCS spot for the "group of five" is going to be determined by the highest ranked champion out of CUSA, the Mac, Sunbelt, MWC and American. If you want a spot in that bowl game, you better run the table. A 1 or 2 loss American conference champion is not going to surpass an undefeated Northern Illiinois, Marshall etc.


http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...in-playoff

The Group of Five are the so-called non-BCS schools (Mountain West, American, MAC, Sun Belt, Conference USA) that were seeking a guaranteed spot in the system. The highest-ranked of those teams beginning in 2014 will play in one of the three "host" -- or open -- bowls.