South Florida is always overlooked

you'd be shocked at who they beat on a regular basis though....

2008
beat Kansas
beat NC State
beat Syracuse
beat UConn
beat Memphis

2009
beat FSU
beat Syracuse
beat West Virginia
beat Louisville
beat NIU

2010
beat Cincinnati
beat Louisville
beat Rutgers
beat Miami
beat Clemson

2011
beat Notre Dame
beat Syracuse

2012
beat UConn

2013
beat Cincinnati
beat UConn

2014
beat UConn
beat SMU

2015
beat Syracuse
beat UConn
beat SMU
beat East Carolina
beat Temple
beat Cincinnati
beat UCF

The state of Florida oozes talent....when South Florida is hot, they are capable of beating some big name schools

I am sure they are one of the schools being considered.

I think this conference would make sense:

Big XII West
Texas
Texas Tech
Kansas
Kansas State
BYU
Iowa State

Big XII East
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
TCU
Baylor
West Virginia
South Florida

You have to have a balancing act to the conference...Texas and Oklahoma anchoring the divisions. A split of the state of Texas, with 2 Texas teams in each division.

Go with football muscle, and add in BYU and South Florida. Loosely pair BYU with Iowa State in the West, and West Virginia with South Florida in the East.

The only problem is I don't know how much UT would like that division lol...I think everyone else would be fine.

Texas has to own up to what they want though....do you want to be regional or national? You can't be both. You can't keep Big XII/SWC leftovers with you and try to be a NATIONAL power just because you got a fancy network (that is failing)

USF is one of schools being considered. Maybe not #1, but up there.

USF was always known for knocking off name teams will in the Big East, getting ranked...then finishing with a mediocre conference record and falling out of rankings.

We drew some outstanding crowds back in our BE time. We experienced a 3-4 year downturn at the time conference realignment was going on. If we had been hot at the time, we likely would have already been invited to a "power" conference when Big East imploded.

If, for example, B12 wants to add a conf. network, then you can't get a better combo than USF and UCF as far as TV markets.

Predict USF will become a very hot candidate after this year. USF will be predicted to win approximately 10 games this year, give or take.

I believe the general perception is that USF had its window of opportunity and blew it. If they would have won the Big East a couple times like WV did, they might have had enough momentum to get a big 12 invite.

Instead they just never took their football team to the next level.

Now the general perception is that UCF has caught up and even surpassed USF. When UCF was given its chance, they turned it into a BCS bowl victory. Now most discussions usually talk about adding UCF first before USF, and USF only gets thrown in as a good travel partner for UCF.

Sorry, USF was given a golden ticket when they were invited to the Big East and they just threw it away.

(02-26-2016 11:08 AM)goofus Wrote:  I believe the general perception is that USF had its window of opportunity and blew it. If they would have won the Big East a couple times like WV did, they might have had enough momentum to get a big 12 invite.

Instead they just never took their football team to the next level.

Now the general perception is that UCF has caught up and even surpassed USF. When UCF was given its chance, they turned it into a BCS bowl victory. Now most discussions usually talk about adding UCF first before USF, and USF only gets thrown in as a good travel partner for UCF.

Sorry, USF was given a golden ticket when they were invited to the Big East and they just threw it away.

This.

I also find it crazy that the big 12 would add BYU. Why stretch the conference across 3 time zones. The only school I want west is Colorado State.

(02-26-2016 11:08 AM)goofus Wrote:  I believe the general perception is that USF had its window of opportunity and blew it. If they would have won the Big East a couple times like WV did, they might have had enough momentum to get a big 12 invite.

Instead they just never took their football team to the next level.

Now the general perception is that UCF has caught up and even surpassed USF. When UCF was given its chance, they turned it into a BCS bowl victory. Now most discussions usually talk about adding UCF first before USF, and USF only gets thrown in as a good travel partner for UCF.

Sorry, USF was given a golden ticket when they were invited to the Big East and they just threw it away.

I think you were correct about this - until about six months ago. Then, in those past six months, USF had a good season, reestablished itself as a credible football program, while UCF totally sh@t the bed with an epically awful 0-12 campaign.

So now, the script has flipped, and USF is regarded as the better candidate.

(02-26-2016 10:08 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  South Florida is always overlooked

Here's my take about our chances:

1) If the Big 12 expands by two teams, our chances aren't good, about 15%. Because IMO the only way we get in is as a two-fer with UCF. They will take both of us or neither of us. With both, they capture some real I-4 synergy and Big 12 schools get to saturate the Florida market with games and recruiting opportunities. With one of us, they are stranded down there on an island.

And i just don't think that is likely. What is most likely is going east and west, taking Cincy to bridge the gap with WVU (and because they are the best combined football/basketball athletic program in the AAC), and BYU as the biggest-brand available football program.

2) But, if the Big 12 expands by four, our chances are much better. In that event, I give us a 70% chance of getting in, because I do think the Florida option is the next-best thing for the Big 12. I'd envision Cincy, BYU, USF, and UCF being the chosen four.

(02-26-2016 11:19 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 10:08 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  South Florida is always overlooked

Here's my take about our chances:

1) If the Big 12 expands by two teams, our chances aren't good, about 15%. Because IMO the only way we get in is as a two-fer with UCF. They will take both of us or neither of us. With both, they capture some real I-4 synergy and Big 12 schools get to saturate the Florida market with games and recruiting opportunities. With one of us, they are stranded down there on an island.

And i just don't think that is likely. What is most likely is going east and west, taking Cincy to bridge the gap with WVU (and because they are the best combined football/basketball athletic program in the AAC), and BYU as the biggest-brand available football program.

2) But, if the Big 12 expands by four, our chances are much better. In that event, I give us a 70% chance of getting in, because I do think the Florida option is the next-best thing for the Big 12. I'd envision Cincy, BYU, USF, and UCF being the chosen four.

I like UCF, but the fact is those schools are NOT attached at the hip....only as speculative travel partners.

If they go to 14, I see Houston and Cincinnati having just as great of a chance as UCF

While UCF has looked good at times, and had the Fiesta Bowl win, South Florida seems to excel better at football consistently...they seem like a program that could easily start competing with FSU and Miami

On a tangent here....the problem with Cincinnati, while being a great choice, is that they don't specifically rule any one category. With the other schools, you have:

UConn- blueblood basketball
BYU- national brand football
Houston- excellent market and recruiting
South Florida or UCF- excellent recruiting, Florida presence

Cincinnati is the cute puppy that can't do a trick...not knocking them, they should be P5 IMO. But it's hard to stand out in the crowd above...

The Big XII doesn't really need a "bridge" to West Virginia either....WV is fine in the conference as is.

(02-26-2016 11:08 AM)goofus Wrote:  I believe the general perception is that USF had its window of opportunity and blew it. If they would have won the Big East a couple times like WV did, they might have had enough momentum to get a big 12 invite.

Instead they just never took their football team to the next level.

Now the general perception is that UCF has caught up and even surpassed USF. When UCF was given its chance, they turned it into a BCS bowl victory. Now most discussions usually talk about adding UCF first before USF, and USF only gets thrown in as a good travel partner for UCF.


Sorry, USF was given a golden ticket when they were invited to the Big East and they just threw it away.

And yet, USF is projected to have a 10 win season upcoming, meanwhile UCF is coming off a winless season.

USF and UCF are both great candidates, but one isn't necessarily better than the other. UCF isn't seen as a better candidate than USF...except by a few message board posters. USF brings everything to the table that UCF does (actually Tampa is a larger market than Orlando, if you're starting a B12 network). Combined Tampa/Orlando is the #4 market in the country behind NY, LA, and Chicago, with nearly as many TV sets as Chicago.

(02-26-2016 11:13 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:08 AM)goofus Wrote:  I believe the general perception is that USF had its window of opportunity and blew it. If they would have won the Big East a couple times like WV did, they might have had enough momentum to get a big 12 invite.

Instead they just never took their football team to the next level.

Now the general perception is that UCF has caught up and even surpassed USF. When UCF was given its chance, they turned it into a BCS bowl victory. Now most discussions usually talk about adding UCF first before USF, and USF only gets thrown in as a good travel partner for UCF.

Sorry, USF was given a golden ticket when they were invited to the Big East and they just threw it away.

I think you were correct about this - until about six months ago. Then, in those past six months, USF had a good season, reestablished itself as a credible football program, while UCF totally sh@t the bed with an epically awful 0-12 campaign.

So now, the script has flipped, and USF is regarded as the better candidate.

The problem is that you don't invite somebody to be a forever partner because they had a good year just when you were looking for one. I think the probability is that neither of these programs will be consistently and demonstrably better than the other. If you want to be in the state of Florida just for the sake of being there, then pick one based on other factors besides their football performance.

(02-26-2016 11:19 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 10:08 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  South Florida is always overlooked

Here's my take about our chances:

1) If the Big 12 expands by two teams, our chances aren't good, about 15%. Because IMO the only way we get in is as a two-fer with UCF. They will take both of us or neither of us. With both, they capture some real I-4 synergy and Big 12 schools get to saturate the Florida market with games and recruiting opportunities. With one of us, they are stranded down there on an island.

And i just don't think that is likely. What is most likely is going east and west, taking Cincy to bridge the gap with WVU (and because they are the best combined football/basketball athletic program in the AAC), and BYU as the biggest-brand available football program.

2) But, if the Big 12 expands by four, our chances are much better. In that event, I give us a 70% chance of getting in, because I do think the Florida option is the next-best thing for the Big 12. I'd envision Cincy, BYU, USF, and UCF being the chosen four.

I agree with your percentages almost exactly. If the B12 goes to 12, then are chances are somewhat low, unless the B12 starts a network at the same time and decides it needs Tampa/Orlando. If the B12 goes to 14, USF's chances are high to get invited. IMO around 75% or more.

If the B12 waits until after the year to expand, our chances go up 15-20%. I predict USF will win 10-12 games this year and break through nationally.

(02-26-2016 11:41 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:13 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:08 AM)goofus Wrote:  I believe the general perception is that USF had its window of opportunity and blew it. If they would have won the Big East a couple times like WV did, they might have had enough momentum to get a big 12 invite.

Instead they just never took their football team to the next level.

Now the general perception is that UCF has caught up and even surpassed USF. When UCF was given its chance, they turned it into a BCS bowl victory. Now most discussions usually talk about adding UCF first before USF, and USF only gets thrown in as a good travel partner for UCF.

Sorry, USF was given a golden ticket when they were invited to the Big East and they just threw it away.

I think you were correct about this - until about six months ago. Then, in those past six months, USF had a good season, reestablished itself as a credible football program, while UCF totally sh@t the bed with an epically awful 0-12 campaign.

So now, the script has flipped, and USF is regarded as the better candidate.

The problem is that you don't invite somebody to be a forever partner because they had a good year just when you were looking for one. I think the probability is that neither of these programs will be consistently and demonstrably better than the other. If you want to be in the state of Florida just for the sake of being there, then pick one based on other factors besides their football performance.

Makes zero sense to pick only one of USF/UCF. Why pick up either the #11 market or #19 market, when you can pick up a combined #4 market. Also, if you're trying to get rid of islands, why create another island. This also gives B12 teams an annual trip to Florida for recruiting purposes.

(02-26-2016 11:48 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:19 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 10:08 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  South Florida is always overlooked

Here's my take about our chances:

1) If the Big 12 expands by two teams, our chances aren't good, about 15%. Because IMO the only way we get in is as a two-fer with UCF. They will take both of us or neither of us. With both, they capture some real I-4 synergy and Big 12 schools get to saturate the Florida market with games and recruiting opportunities. With one of us, they are stranded down there on an island.

And i just don't think that is likely. What is most likely is going east and west, taking Cincy to bridge the gap with WVU (and because they are the best combined football/basketball athletic program in the AAC), and BYU as the biggest-brand available football program.

2) But, if the Big 12 expands by four, our chances are much better. In that event, I give us a 70% chance of getting in, because I do think the Florida option is the next-best thing for the Big 12. I'd envision Cincy, BYU, USF, and UCF being the chosen four.

I agree with your percentages almost exactly. If the B12 goes to 12, then are chances are somewhat low, unless the B12 starts a network at the same time and decides it needs Tampa/Orlando. If the B12 goes to 14, USF's chances are high to get invited. IMO around 75% or more.

If the B12 waits until after the year to expand, our chances go up 15-20%. I predict USF will win 10-12 games this year and break through nationally.

I'm a Florida State fan, and I'm eyeing that road game at South Florida with suspicion lol

FSU brings back their entire offense...it's playoffs or bust IMO. We start off with Ole Miss, and then have road games at Louisville and South Florida....it's a brutal first couple months

(02-26-2016 11:38 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  On a tangent here....the problem with Cincinnati, while being a great choice, is that they don't specifically rule any one category. With the other schools, you have:

UConn- blueblood basketball
BYU- national brand football
Houston- excellent market and recruiting
South Florida or UCF- excellent recruiting, Florida presence

Cincinnati is the cute puppy that can't do a trick...not knocking them, they should be P5 IMO. But it's hard to stand out in the crowd above...

The Big XII doesn't really need a "bridge" to West Virginia either....WV is fine in the conference as is.

I would argue Cincy is a pretty good BB School

3 national championships, big arena that they are expanding, 6 final fours, been to NCAA tournament a lot. If they joined the big 12 they would be in top 3 best basketball programs

(02-26-2016 11:53 AM)CyclonePower Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:38 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  On a tangent here....the problem with Cincinnati, while being a great choice, is that they don't specifically rule any one category. With the other schools, you have:

UConn- blueblood basketball
BYU- national brand football
Houston- excellent market and recruiting
South Florida or UCF- excellent recruiting, Florida presence

Cincinnati is the cute puppy that can't do a trick...not knocking them, they should be P5 IMO. But it's hard to stand out in the crowd above...

The Big XII doesn't really need a "bridge" to West Virginia either....WV is fine in the conference as is.

I would argue Cincy is a pretty good BB School

of course they are....but as good as UConn? UConn is at the top....throw them in with Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Kansas

(02-26-2016 11:52 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:48 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:19 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 10:08 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  South Florida is always overlooked

Here's my take about our chances:

1) If the Big 12 expands by two teams, our chances aren't good, about 15%. Because IMO the only way we get in is as a two-fer with UCF. They will take both of us or neither of us. With both, they capture some real I-4 synergy and Big 12 schools get to saturate the Florida market with games and recruiting opportunities. With one of us, they are stranded down there on an island.

And i just don't think that is likely. What is most likely is going east and west, taking Cincy to bridge the gap with WVU (and because they are the best combined football/basketball athletic program in the AAC), and BYU as the biggest-brand available football program.

2) But, if the Big 12 expands by four, our chances are much better. In that event, I give us a 70% chance of getting in, because I do think the Florida option is the next-best thing for the Big 12. I'd envision Cincy, BYU, USF, and UCF being the chosen four.

I agree with your percentages almost exactly. If the B12 goes to 12, then are chances are somewhat low, unless the B12 starts a network at the same time and decides it needs Tampa/Orlando. If the B12 goes to 14, USF's chances are high to get invited. IMO around 75% or more.

If the B12 waits until after the year to expand, our chances go up 15-20%. I predict USF will win 10-12 games this year and break through nationally.

I'm a Florida State fan, and I'm eyeing that road game at South Florida with suspicion lol

FSU brings back their entire offense...it's playoffs or bust IMO. We start off with Ole Miss, and then have road games at Louisville and South Florida....it's a brutal first couple months

Yes, I am hopeful, but not expecting a win over FSU. I have it penciled as a loss, but am expecting a very close game. Our game last year was tied 7-7 at half before you pulled away in 2nd half (thanks for scoring that garbage time TD with a min or 2 left to make the score look more lopsided, LOL).

You have tremendous talent and have been recruiting lights out. I feel that your QB situation will be somewhat still muddled when we play. Not saying it won't be good, just not established yet. Kind of like ours was last year before Flowers got going big time down the stretch. If we can somehow stop Cook, I think we can win. Problem is, very few people do, and he ran wild on us last year.

Crowd should be close to a sellout, and yes you will have a very large contingent of fans.

(02-26-2016 11:55 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:53 AM)CyclonePower Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:38 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  On a tangent here....the problem with Cincinnati, while being a great choice, is that they don't specifically rule any one category. With the other schools, you have:

UConn- blueblood basketball
BYU- national brand football
Houston- excellent market and recruiting
South Florida or UCF- excellent recruiting, Florida presence

Cincinnati is the cute puppy that can't do a trick...not knocking them, they should be P5 IMO. But it's hard to stand out in the crowd above...

The Big XII doesn't really need a "bridge" to West Virginia either....WV is fine in the conference as is.

I would argue Cincy is a pretty good BB School

of course they are....but as good as UConn? UConn is at the top....throw them in with Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Kansas

Uconn is a good basketball team and I don't want to take anything away from them but Cincy has more conference championships and final fours. Plus I think Uconn is too far for me. I heard from UConn fans that they hate being in a conference that they can't travel to games. Big 12 is worse traveling than the AAC.

(02-26-2016 11:11 AM)CyclonePower Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:08 AM)goofus Wrote:  I believe the general perception is that USF had its window of opportunity and blew it. If they would have won the Big East a couple times like WV did, they might have had enough momentum to get a big 12 invite.

Instead they just never took their football team to the next level.

Now the general perception is that UCF has caught up and even surpassed USF. When UCF was given its chance, they turned it into a BCS bowl victory. Now most discussions usually talk about adding UCF first before USF, and USF only gets thrown in as a good travel partner for UCF.

Sorry, USF was given a golden ticket when they were invited to the Big East and they just threw it away.

This.

I also find it crazy that the big 12 would add BYU. Why stretch the conference across 3 time zones. The only school I want west is Colorado State.

Colorado St. is in the Mountain time zone with BYU.

It would be ideal to have a Mountain time zone school if a conference TV network is the goal - especially a school that can get eyeballs in California. You can have games that start at 10pm ET and compete against the PAC 12 for ratings.