What about this setup? From a basketball/football perspective I think its better for all parties involved.

East Division
Marshall
Old Dominion
Charlotte
App State
Coastal Carolina

West Division
Southern Miss
UAB
Western Kentucky
Middle Tennessee
Georgia State

-The minimum 10 you need in FB. SoMiss adds some pop for FB in the West division. Louisiana schools are good but too far. Best to include Georgia St for the media market.

-Doesn't include the Florida schools since they are like UTEPs of the south, too far for most everyone else.

-East division more tight nit for travel including App and Coastal for members.

I don’t get why people can’t understand that you do not have to have ten for football. You can have eight or nine as long as a full round-robin is played. Then, the top two teams play ion the CCG. It has been this way for a while now.

(01-18-2021 11:32 AM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(01-18-2021 09:38 AM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(01-17-2021 10:20 PM)andy98 Wrote:  

(01-16-2021 05:12 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  Upgrading the MAC by lopping off three of the bottom feeders ( BGSU, Eastern Michigan, Akron)...
Bring in Liberty, James Madison, UMASS - (12 members for all sports)
Bring in Army, NDSU - FB only

For the most part, I've always thought the same thing. I would get rid of BGSU, Kent, Akron, and EMU. Then replace them with Liberty, UMass, Western Kentucky, and Marshall.

Northern Illinois
Ball State
Western Michigan
Central Michigan
Toledo
Ohio
Miami OH
Western Kentucky
Marshall
Buffalo
U Mass
Liberty

There is no way that Marshall wants any part of that mess.

Out of that mess, three teams (Ball State, Buffalo, Liberty) were ranked this past season...
Yeah, that SW Texas to the east coast conf. that you are in makes so much sense geographically...
I know Herd fans like to travel... All of these are within within 6-7 hours except for maybe NIU or UMASS...

It has less to do with the teams. Our rivalry was awesome. It’s more about a cultural fit. Marshall always stuck out like a sore thumb in the MAC because we are culturally much more southern. Even in the short distance between Athens and Huntington, the culture completely changes.

(01-16-2021 05:24 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  MAC’s current membership is perfect. Only negative to the league is weeknight games.

Back when the MAC has 13 members while the B1G had 11 and the Horizon had 9 it was irritating to be splitting the NCAA bid 13 ways. The MAC was a very large conference for the time 20 years ago.

The average D1 conference size today is 11.41 schools. The average FBS all-sport conference size is 12.6 schools. The MAC then sitting at 12 is now only average sized for a D1/FBS conference.

One could argue it might be even better at 10 but programs like EMU and Akron help with the regional saturation and the champ games in Detroit and Cleveland. Plus they've dropped serious cash into facilities so they are no longer a standard deviation behind other MAC programs.

Midweek games remain a challenge. I bet those will be adjusted when the MAC reups with ESPN. One of the nice things about being out until 2026-27 is they'll be able to make changes AFTER the new CFP contract is ratified and any conference changes. Perhaps there is a chance to get MWC money next time around (3.75 million per school).

(01-18-2021 12:37 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  I don’t get why people can’t understand that you do not have to have ten for football. You can have eight or nine as long as a full round-robin is played. Then, the top two teams play ion the CCG. It has been this way for a while now.

CFP money is split 10 ways. 10 is about the minimum for a 2 division FB setup to be sensible.

(01-18-2021 12:52 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(01-18-2021 12:37 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  I don’t get why people can’t understand that you do not have to have ten for football. You can have eight or nine as long as a full round-robin is played. Then, the top two teams play ion the CCG. It has been this way for a while now.

CFP money is split 10 ways. 10 is about the minimum for a 2 division FB setup to be sensible.

I think there was confusion that the rule was done away with if there is a round-robin and many think the NCAA just dropped the rule from 12 to 10. However 10 or 12 are the perfect number. 14 maybe if you had an extremely compact conference and the 2 extra teams were worth the investment at the G5. Power 5 doesn't matter, they make so much money.

(01-10-2021 08:34 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(01-05-2021 08:52 AM)andy98 Wrote:  NORTHERN DIVISION
Northern Illinois
Western Michigan
Central Michigan
Ohio
Marshall
Western Kentucky
Middle Tennessee

SOUTHERN DIVISION
Appalachian State
Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
UAB
Southern Miss
Louisiana
Arkansas State

Not a fan. Not sure how it’s the “best” of the rest. Troy has a much richer history than some of the schools on this list.

Troy's biggest problem is there are 3 FBS schools in the state of Alabama.

UAB has the new 47,000 seat stadium. They've made a Final Four in basketball and have a tradition there. Basketball is an important differentiator in CUSA reshuffle.

South Alabama is also in there with a bigger market than Troy and more of a basketball school rep.

Main campus enrollment of 8,000 students isn't quite attractive either as its a smaller alumni base.

(01-19-2021 01:53 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(01-10-2021 08:34 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(01-05-2021 08:52 AM)andy98 Wrote:  NORTHERN DIVISION
Northern Illinois
Western Michigan
Central Michigan
Ohio
Marshall
Western Kentucky
Middle Tennessee

SOUTHERN DIVISION
Appalachian State
Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
UAB
Southern Miss
Louisiana
Arkansas State

Not a fan. Not sure how it’s the “best” of the rest. Troy has a much richer history than some of the schools on this list.

Troy's biggest problem is there are 3 FBS schools in the state of Alabama.

UAB has the new 47,000 seat stadium. They've made a Final Four in basketball and have a tradition there. Basketball is an important differentiator in CUSA reshuffle.

South Alabama is also in there with a bigger market than Troy and more of a basketball school rep.

Main campus enrollment of 8,000 students isn't quite attractive either as its a smaller alumni base.

UAB has never made a final four......

UAB to the elite 8 in 1982. Charlotte was the one with the Final Four in 1977. WKU also made one in 1971.

Between the three they have a lot of tournament appearances.

Western Kentucky 23
UAB 15
Charlotte 11

(01-19-2021 09:26 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  UAB to the elite 8 in 1982. Charlotte was the one with the Final Four in 1977. WKU also made one in 1971.

Between the three they have a lot of tournament appearances.

Western Kentucky 23
UAB 15
Charlotte 11

I always wondered why fans bring up what a program did in the 70's and 80's as relevant to deciding future conference mates post 2021?

your talking 40-50 yrs ago. If a program hasnt been able to maintain close to that level of relevant success during what I would suggest the last 20 years, then that old success is outdated for the purpose of defining and picking good basketball programs moving into the future.

(01-19-2021 09:56 AM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(01-19-2021 09:26 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  UAB to the elite 8 in 1982. Charlotte was the one with the Final Four in 1977. WKU also made one in 1971.

Between the three they have a lot of tournament appearances.

Western Kentucky 23
UAB 15
Charlotte 11

I always wondered why fans bring up what a program did in the 70's and 80's as relevant to deciding future conference mates post 2021?

your talking 40-50 yrs ago. If a program hasnt been able to maintain close to that level of relevant success during what I would suggest the last 20 years, then that old success is outdated for the purpose of defining and picking good basketball programs moving into the future.

Charlotte was very successful in CUSA 1.0, regularly a Top 4 program in that basketball conference.

UAB was one of the top programs in CUSA 2.0.

WKU remains a strong high mid major recruiting factor as UK/UL don't need the state as they go national.

Charlotte, UAB, WKU....then you have MT which has shown more recent strength and Georgia St is on the rise. ODU has good basketball and Marshall is always pretty good in the sport. Could be a strong 1 bid league, if not a 2 bid league.

When the difference in FB is minimal basketball starts to become important.

(01-10-2021 08:36 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  The go for big markets idea is what ruined the CUSA currently.

Well, it's hard to say this is wrong. "A little fish in a big pond" doesn't seem at this point in time like the brilliant strategy somebody at the time thought it was going to be.

(01-19-2021 10:30 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(01-19-2021 09:56 AM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(01-19-2021 09:26 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  UAB to the elite 8 in 1982. Charlotte was the one with the Final Four in 1977. WKU also made one in 1971.

Between the three they have a lot of tournament appearances.

Western Kentucky 23
UAB 15
Charlotte 11

I always wondered why fans bring up what a program did in the 70's and 80's as relevant to deciding future conference mates post 2021?

your talking 40-50 yrs ago. If a program hasnt been able to maintain close to that level of relevant success during what I would suggest the last 20 years, then that old success is outdated for the purpose of defining and picking good basketball programs moving into the future.

Charlotte was very successful in CUSA 1.0, regularly a Top 4 program in that basketball conference.

UAB was one of the top programs in CUSA 2.0.

WKU remains a strong high mid major recruiting factor as UK/UL don't need the state as they go national.

Charlotte, UAB, WKU....then you have MT which has shown more recent strength and Georgia St is on the rise. ODU has good basketball and Marshall is always pretty good in the sport. Could be a strong 1 bid league, if not a 2 bid league.

When the difference in FB is minimal basketball starts to become important.

I wasnt saying if those teams were good basketball programs, only that the use of success from 40 plus years ago as the reason those teams are good programs has been overused by lots of fans, and I dont understand why it matters for this particular conversation about the future. I was asking for some clarity as to why?

(01-19-2021 09:26 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  UAB to the elite 8 in 1982. Charlotte was the one with the Final Four in 1977. WKU also made one in 1971.

Between the three they have a lot of tournament appearances.

Western Kentucky 23
UAB 15
Charlotte 11

A little modern history.
Since 2000
WKU 7 times - last 2013
UAB 5 times - last 2015
Charlotte 4 times - last 2004

(01-19-2021 11:53 AM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(01-19-2021 10:30 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(01-19-2021 09:56 AM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(01-19-2021 09:26 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  UAB to the elite 8 in 1982. Charlotte was the one with the Final Four in 1977. WKU also made one in 1971.

Between the three they have a lot of tournament appearances.

Western Kentucky 23
UAB 15
Charlotte 11

I always wondered why fans bring up what a program did in the 70's and 80's as relevant to deciding future conference mates post 2021?

your talking 40-50 yrs ago. If a program hasnt been able to maintain close to that level of relevant success during what I would suggest the last 20 years, then that old success is outdated for the purpose of defining and picking good basketball programs moving into the future.

Charlotte was very successful in CUSA 1.0, regularly a Top 4 program in that basketball conference.

UAB was one of the top programs in CUSA 2.0.

WKU remains a strong high mid major recruiting factor as UK/UL don't need the state as they go national.

Charlotte, UAB, WKU....then you have MT which has shown more recent strength and Georgia St is on the rise. ODU has good basketball and Marshall is always pretty good in the sport. Could be a strong 1 bid league, if not a 2 bid league.

When the difference in FB is minimal basketball starts to become important.

I wasnt saying if those teams were good basketball programs, only that the use of success from 40 plus years ago as the reason those teams are good programs has been overused by lots of fans, and I dont understand why it matters for this particular conversation about the future. I was asking for some clarity as to why?

It shows what a program is capable of doing whereas for a D1 program with 3 first round exits in its history its a lower ceiling.

It also relates back to investment level and recruiting potential. WKU has always picked up some 4 star guys.

Again its no guarantee it will make for a good basketball conference but you have a better chance with WKU, UAB, Charlotte than what you do with A-State, Louisiana and Troy.

North
ODU
Liberty
Marshall
App State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina

South
WKU
Middle Tennessee
UAB
Troy
Georgia State
Georgia Southern

(01-21-2021 12:41 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  North
ODU
Liberty
Marshall
App State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina

South
WKU
Middle Tennessee
UAB
Troy
Georgia State
Georgia Southern

I mean I’d miss our games vs Louisiana & stAte and I’m sure we’d schedule USA yearly to keep that game going so I don’t hate this.. This division is slightly more compact than we are now. I feel Troy/Southern could develop some form of Deep South rivalry type game if kept together if they aren’t already slowly doing it now.

(01-21-2021 12:41 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  North
ODU
Liberty
Marshall
App State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina

South
WKU
Middle Tennessee
UAB
Troy
Georgia State
Georgia Southern

This has my vote.

(01-21-2021 12:41 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  North
ODU
Liberty
Marshall
App State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina

South
WKU
Middle Tennessee
UAB
Troy
Georgia State
Georgia Southern

There are a couple on the list that I'm not a huge fan of, BUT this would make sense in a lot of ways.

(01-21-2021 12:41 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  North
ODU
Liberty
Marshall
App State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina

South
WKU
Middle Tennessee
UAB
Troy
Georgia State
Georgia Southern

This is pretty close to what I would like to see happen. Only difference I had was James Madison instead of Troy. However, on further review, Troy makes more sense geographically.