Looks like the Big 12 is looking to add four schools two to four will be AAC schools.

If only two that means BYU and one MWC team UNM or CSU most likely.

Do you see the AAC being able to raid the MWC if the MW loses a school ?
With the uneven MWC TV deal and the AAC being the better more balanced academic conference.
They may have the possibility of still raiding the MWC if three teams are lost I doubt its possible with four.

I got a random question because I don't want to start another thread.
Can the WAC invite teams to FBS for football only without getting eight all sports members.
For example four BSC and three MVFC and the teams transition and all end up in the Big Sky. Along with NMSU and possibly UTRG maybe others like U Mass.
Basically use the WAC's ability to invite teams for transition purposes only .
Then form a un-official conference of FBS teams without changing olympic sports affiliations.

(07-23-2016 09:43 AM)MJG Wrote:  Looks like the Big 12 is looking to add four schools two to four will be AAC schools.

If only two that means BYU and one MWC team UNM or CSU most likely.

Do you see the AAC being able to raid the MWC if the MW loses a school ?
With the uneven MWC TV deal and the AAC being the better more balanced academic conference.
They may have the possibility of still raiding the MWC if three teams are lost I doubt its possible with four.

I got a random question because I don't want to start another thread.
Can the WAC invite teams to FBS for football only without getting eight all sports members.
For example four BSC and three MVFC and the teams transition and all end up in the Big Sky. Along with NMSU and possibly UTRG maybe others like U Mass.
Basically use the WAC's ability to invite teams for transition purposes only .
Then form a un-official conference of FBS teams without changing olympic sports affiliations.

CUSA and MWC were looking at doing a merger before the AAC raided CUSA. I think it all goes back to that since AAC is really now CUSA and with the loss of schools, the AAC's effort to separate it self from the MWC and rest is much more difficult.

If 4 schools go to Big 12, the AAC and MWC do a joint TV contract and coordinate new members from CUSA, Independents and possibly MAC. They go to 14 each which should, as things roll down, turn the G5 into a G4 with the Sun Belt disappearing (as virtually all their members move into CUSA). If the Big 12 takes 4, P5 will be 69 schools and G5 60-Those could be spread over 2 fourteen team conferences and 2 sixteen team conferences (or 4 of 14 with 4 schools independent).

There will be no merger of any sort nor any raid of schools between the MW and AAC. If the Big 12 only adds 2 schools, the AAC Commish has hinted that they will stay at 10 fb schools. If they lose 4, then they will have to add 2 which mostly likely will help CUSA.

The biggest question is what does Navy do when the AAC loses 2 and triggers the TV clause to be renegotiated (most likely down)? They came in to the AAC with the stipulation that they would not be going to be losing TV $$. They already have a special deal with the AAC, that they keep their half of the Army/Navy game which by the way, is more than what the current AAC schools get.

(07-23-2016 10:24 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  There will be no merger of any sort nor any raid of schools between the MW and AAC. If the Big 12 only adds 2 schools, the AAC Commish has hinted that they will stay at 10 fb schools. If they lose 4, then they will have to add 2 which mostly likely will help CUSA.

The biggest question is what does Navy do when the AAC loses 2 and triggers the TV clause to be renegotiated (most likely down)? They came in to the AAC with the stipulation that they would not be going to be losing TV $$. They already have a special deal with the AAC, that they keep their half of the Army/Navy game which by the way, is more than what the current AAC schools get.

That's a good question but Navy's administration seems to really like the AAC.

(07-23-2016 10:24 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  There will be no merger of any sort nor any raid of schools between the MW and AAC. If the Big 12 only adds 2 schools, the AAC Commish has hinted that they will stay at 10 fb schools. If they lose 4, then they will have to add 2 which mostly likely will help CUSA.

The biggest question is what does Navy do when the AAC loses 2 and triggers the TV clause to be renegotiated (most likely down)? They came in to the AAC with the stipulation that they would not be going to be losing TV $$. They already have a special deal with the AAC, that they keep their half of the Army/Navy game which by the way, is more than what the current AAC schools get.

Just have to ask this. Do you foresee the MWC media contract going up in any meaningful way in the next decade ? How long do you think that the teams can go given the gap that is growing by millions every year between the P5 and G5 ? Given what is going on in the B12 right now it's not looking good . Your conference already plays at a time when most of the college football watching population is going to bed. These guys are intent on killing these lower conferences . There will be only one choice left for the schools intent on playing div1 football on this side of the line. Do everything you can to stay on The most watched media outlets however it is being viewed,and get the most money possible . We may or may not get a better deal as a merged conference, but we already know the money and how it's going to go down if we don't.

(07-23-2016 10:24 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  There will be no merger of any sort nor any raid of schools between the MW and AAC. If the Big 12 only adds 2 schools, the AAC Commish has hinted that they will stay at 10 fb schools. If they lose 4, then they will have to add 2 which mostly likely will help CUSA.

The biggest question is what does Navy do when the AAC loses 2 and triggers the TV clause to be renegotiated (most likely down)? They came in to the AAC with the stipulation that they would not be going to be losing TV $$. They already have a special deal with the AAC, that they keep their half of the Army/Navy game which by the way, is more than what the current AAC schools get.

I think Houston jumping to number 1 has really changed much of conventional past thinking. I think the odds have it from the likely two to four teams. I think the only question is does a western team get in. With the Texas coming out stating the like BYU and Houston, I think it will be 4 teams. 3 from the AAC - Houston, Cincy and (UCONN, Memphis or UCF) I am going with UCONN. Losing these TV markets would be a huge and will likely cause ESPN to renegotiate. This is why I think you could see the Aresco and the AAC go after MWC. If they could get Army football only, then Air Force, CSU, Boise, SDSU, UNLV and Utah St. Have 16 teams for football and 14 for basketball. This would be the best play to become the P6. Just playing the Hail Mary scenario.

Too culturally different to merge, not to mention the distance. But a scheduling alliance for non-conference FB and BB games makes a lot of sense.

No problems for either the MWC or AAC to pick up replacement teams if either desires.

Given the schools that the American is likely to lose, the TV contract will get re-negotiated, and that isn't good news for the AAC. A lot depends on how many teams are lost. If UConn and Temple remain, the AAC could extend an olive branch to UMass and have another Northeast presence. It seems likely that Houston will be gone, along with Cincinnati. Do you replace those two with UMass and Rice? Do you stay with 10 teams for football and 9 teams for all sports?

I don't think Army has any interest in joining.

UConn and USF slide further behind their former conference mates.

If they're smart they will grab Georgia Southern and Appalachian State...one of the best rivalries/two of the best programs in the Group of Five.

If we lose both Houston & Cincy I'd support Rice and USM as replacements. If the AAC loses 4 schools, I would start a campaign to get ECU to go independent with Olympic sports going to the A-10. Maybe any of Temple, Memphis, and UCONN (if not taken) would come over with us. Tulsa and Tulane would.
Cheers!

(07-23-2016 01:57 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  If we lose both Houston & Cincy I'd support Rice and USM as replacements. If the AAC loses 4 schools, I would start a campaign to get ECU to go independent with Olympic sports going to the A-10. Maybe any of Temple, Memphis, and UCONN (if not taken) would come over with us. Tulsa and Tulane would.
Cheers!

Just curious how do you propose to convince the A-10 to take ECU in that situation? The A10 is a basketball first league and that is certainly not ECUs focus.

(07-23-2016 02:09 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(07-23-2016 01:57 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  If we lose both Houston & Cincy I'd support Rice and USM as replacements. If the AAC loses 4 schools, I would start a campaign to get ECU to go independent with Olympic sports going to the A-10. Maybe any of Temple, Memphis, and UCONN (if not taken) would come over with us. Tulsa and Tulane would.
Cheers!

Just curious how do you propose to convince the A-10 to take ECU in that situation? The A10 is a basketball first league and that is certainly not ECUs focus.

It would be a tough sell for sure. If the AAC loses 4 then maybe the leftovers can grab a UMASS and an Old Dominion and have a new 8 team Olympic sports only league like the Big East or A-10. ECU just has too much to lose from a football standpoint to be associated with lesser football schools. We have a P5 stadium and P5 support/attendance. We can get home and home football games to fill an Indy season. Just look at our future schedules. Loaded with P5 H&H's. Here are regional schools we have history with that we can schedule regularly with an independent schedule:
1.WVU
2.V Tech
3. NC St
4. Wake
5. Duke
6. UNC
7. Marshall
8. Charlotte
9. App St
10.Old Dominion
11.a road $ game vs the SEC
12.FCS team

The future of the AAC is not bright if it loses schools to the Big 12.

I think the AAC will end up losing 3 schools.

If the AAC was thinking about the long term then doing what it takes to be the best G5 conference should be it's goal. They need to beef up FB and some help on the BBall end and a school that would make UConn feel more comfortable.

Umass, NIU and Ohio. Two of the strongest FB programs from the MAC and a quality BBall program that is close to UConn. I'd even look into inviting VCU to off balance Navy FB.

(07-23-2016 11:20 AM)FUB Wrote:  

(07-23-2016 10:24 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  There will be no merger of any sort nor any raid of schools between the MW and AAC. If the Big 12 only adds 2 schools, the AAC Commish has hinted that they will stay at 10 fb schools. If they lose 4, then they will have to add 2 which mostly likely will help CUSA.

The biggest question is what does Navy do when the AAC loses 2 and triggers the TV clause to be renegotiated (most likely down)? They came in to the AAC with the stipulation that they would not be going to be losing TV $$. They already have a special deal with the AAC, that they keep their half of the Army/Navy game which by the way, is more than what the current AAC schools get.

Just have to ask this. Do you foresee the MWC media contract going up in any meaningful way in the next decade ? How long do you think that the teams can go given the gap that is growing by millions every year between the P5 and G5 ? Given what is going on in the B12 right now it's not looking good . Your conference already plays at a time when most of the college football watching population is going to bed. These guys are intent on killing these lower conferences . There will be only one choice left for the schools intent on playing div1 football on this side of the line. Do everything you can to stay on The most watched media outlets however it is being viewed,and get the most money possible . We may or may not get a better deal as a merged conference, but we already know the money and how it's going to go down if we don't.

I see the MW TV contract going up a little, but meaningful could be subjective because all G5 conferences have never has been close to the $$ compared to the P5 schools. Any TV increase for the MW will help close the gap for COA, but really if you had zero to begin with, anything else is a bonus.

(07-23-2016 12:51 PM)megadrone Wrote:  Given the schools that the American is likely to lose, the TV contract will get re-negotiated, and that isn't good news for the AAC. A lot depends on how many teams are lost. If UConn and Temple remain, the AAC could extend an olive branch to UMass and have another Northeast presence. It seems likely that Houston will be gone, along with Cincinnati. Do you replace those two with UMass and Rice? Do you stay with 10 teams for football and 9 teams for all sports?

I don't think Army has any interest in joining.

UConn and USF slide further behind their former conference mates.

Army won't join the AAC unless they also get the Navy special deal where they keep their 1/2 of the Army/Navy game payout. Army already make more than the AAC and really unless they can offer more, there is no point for Army to join. Which is why I question if Navy make re-think Indy if they don't get to keep their special TV deal.

They could arrange a deal like Hawaii where Hawaii has its own TV contract and their TV money isn't pooled in the MW TV contract unless the MW contract is equal to or more than Hawaii.

(07-23-2016 01:57 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  If we lose both Houston & Cincy I'd support Rice and USM as replacements. If the AAC loses 4 schools, I would start a campaign to get ECU to go independent with Olympic sports going to the A-10. Maybe any of Temple, Memphis, and UCONN (if not taken) would come over with us. Tulsa and Tulane would.
Cheers!

Independence is going the way of the do-do. ND nor Navy could make it work. No way ECU has an easier time scheduling than either of them and now you got no bowl tie in and your olympic sports are in the Southern or Colonial.

(07-23-2016 12:06 PM)msm96wolf Wrote:  I think Houston jumping to number 1 has really changed much of conventional past thinking. I think the odds have it from the likely two to four teams. I think the only question is does a western team get in. With the Texas coming out stating the like BYU and Houston, I think it will be 4 teams. 3 from the AAC - Houston, Cincy and (UCONN, Memphis or UCF) I am going with UCONN. Losing these TV markets would be a huge and will likely cause ESPN to renegotiate. This is why I think you could see the Aresco and the AAC go after MWC. If they could get Army football only, then Air Force, CSU, Boise, SDSU, UNLV and Utah St. Have 16 teams for football and 14 for basketball. This would be the best play to become the P6. Just playing the Hail Mary scenario.

I know I am biased here, but one of these schools is not like the others, one of these schools doesn't belong here.

The Aggies are a distant third in a small state - with little interest outside of the Utah market.

If you're going to include 6 MWC schools, Fresno St. is next up, if not ahead of UNLV.

Just another side of the coin to think about. Would the MWC consider to go after any of these schools? SMU, Tulsa, Memphis and/or Navy? MWC goes after the remaining west schools. Improve TV Markets, Basketball and bring in decent football programs. Basically MWX offer assurances that they payout would likely be more than an ESPN renegotiated contract. Basically do what the AAC did to CUSA. This is a time for either conference to become the next considered P6 conference or outright top G5 conference in regards to money. Before any AAC fans cry out, I have proposed a similar AAC strategy to raid the MWC. I think this may be the last major realignment for a long time. Just curious which conference moves first.

(07-23-2016 06:23 PM)msm96wolf Wrote:  Just another side of the coin to think about. Would the MWC consider to go after any of these schools? SMU, Tulsa, Memphis and/or Navy? MWC goes after the remaining west schools. Improve TV Markets, Basketball and bring in decent football programs. Basically MWX offer assurances that they payout would likely be more than an ESPN renegotiated contract. Basically do what the AAC did to CUSA. This is a time for either conference to become the next considered P6 conference or outright top G5 conference in regards to money. Before any AAC fans cry out, I have proposed a similar AAC strategy to raid the MWC. I think this may be the last major realignment for a long time. Just curious which conference moves first.

Makes no sense for the schools of either conference. They'll stay put. The outliers like SMU & Tulsa have history with most of the current MWC schools from the WAC days. New Mexico is the closest school to an AAC school. Doubt they'd be interested in a depleted AAC and I doubt the AAC would want them anyway. My guess is ESPN will let Aresco know who from CUSA will keep the tv contract from going down.
Rice? USM? UMASS?
Cheers!