(10-15-2026 06:17 AM)gumbobrown Wrote:  Would East Carolina consider it if ESPN promised to keep their money the same until 2032. It would essentially cost the network no additional monies as the $7m is already allocated for. ECU is a football and baseball school which is a better fit in the SBC, whereas the AC is "big city", basketball, and no fans football conference.

They would still be paying more overall since JMU is getting bumped up (notwithstanding money being freed up if the AC has some defections) then combine that with the fact that they want ECU playing AC schools like Memphis for example since it probably draws more viewship than playing SBC schools overall. They would be losing out on advertising revenue.

But it does bring up a fun thought experiment for ECU fans. If the money stayed the same, would they move to the SBC? I don't know exit fee amount, would they make it up with increased ticket sales and savings on transportation?

(10-14-2026 08:46 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  Could App for UNCC just trade places? They're closer to that majestic airport you know.

Seems like a fair swap. I'd welcome it.

App and Charlotte swap? No thank you.

I just do not see ECU as an option. If they were, their fans would absolutely lose their minds. But even more so, it could mean they are in some trouble.
Same goes for Charlotte but makes a little more sense for them. I could see the American threatening to remove them from the conference. Going to the Sun Belt would be an attempt to save themselves from having to drop all the way down to FCS. The only thing they provide is a better regional connection with the east. But as for the Charlotte market? That's a joke. Nobody in Charlotte cares about them.
Delaware is a good school, but I just don't see them moving conference this quickly. They just started in CUSA and haven't even shown what they can do. They just paid a ton of money to leave the CAA and join CUSA. I don't know how their donors would feel about doing that whole thing again so soon. It could also be an admission that going to CUSA was a mistake.

(10-15-2026 07:35 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I just do not see ECU as an option. If they were, their fans would absolutely lose their minds. But even more so, it could mean they are in some trouble.
Same goes for Charlotte but makes a little more sense for them. I could see the American threatening to remove them from the conference. Going to the Sun Belt would be an attempt to save themselves from having to drop all the way down to FCS. The only thing they provide is a better regional connection with the east. But as for the Charlotte market? That's a joke. Nobody in Charlotte cares about them.
Delaware is a good school, but I just don't see them moving conference this quickly. They just started in CUSA and haven't even shown what they can do. They just paid a ton of money to leave the CAA and join CUSA. I don't know how their donors would feel about doing that whole thing again so soon. It could also be an admission that going to CUSA was a mistake.

I think Delaware is eyeing the American and feels like they can probably get there from CUSA as easily as the SBC, especially since a big draw for them would be JMU and that train is leaving the station. But like you said, it is still a little early for them to move, needs a bit more time in the oven to acclimate.

I don't see Charlotte or ECU as real candidates at this time. Maybe in another 5 to 10 years depending on how the cookie crumbles.

I think there are many CUSA/MAC programs who will be interested, but it will come down to $$$ for pretty much all of them. I think only Liberty has the money to set on fire. Anyone else would want some sort of assurance that the SBC they are joining today won't be gutted tomorrow. That means increased exit penalties, better media money, maybe a GoR?

(10-15-2026 06:17 AM)gumbobrown Wrote:  Would East Carolina consider it if ESPN promised to keep their money the same until 2032. It would essentially cost the network no additional monies as the $7m is already allocated for. ECU is a football and baseball school which is a better fit in the SBC, whereas the AC is "big city", basketball, and no fans football conference.

ECU would need to find a way to make themselves whole which I don't see happening.

First they would need to pay the American exit fee. That's only $10M with 27 months notice (i.e., 2029 SBC start date), but few schools wait that long and typically pay the American $17-18M to leave sooner.

Then they need to deal with a conference distribution that will fall from $12M to $3M. The SBC would need to make up that $9M a year and provide a path for ECU to eventually recoup its $17-18M in exit fees. That likely means structuring distributions to provide ECU with ~$15-17M per year. This is all just to make it revenue-neutral for ECU.

I don't see ESPN increasing the SBC's media deal by $15M+ per year for ECU. Even if they did, I could see a lot of conflict over the idea of paying one school $15M+ while all the others are making roughly $3-4M.

The only way I see ECU moving to the SBC is if they 1) want to and 2) have a corporate sponsor that also wants them in the SBC and is going to make them whole.

(10-15-2026 08:15 AM)We Are the Dukes of JMU Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 06:17 AM)gumbobrown Wrote:  Would East Carolina consider it if ESPN promised to keep their money the same until 2032. It would essentially cost the network no additional monies as the $7m is already allocated for. ECU is a football and baseball school which is a better fit in the SBC, whereas the AC is "big city", basketball, and no fans football conference.

ECU would need to find a way to make themselves whole which I don't see happening.

First they would need to pay the American exit fee. That's only $10M with 27 months notice (i.e., 2029 SBC start date), but few schools wait that long and typically pay the American $17-18M to leave sooner.

Then they need to deal with a conference distribution that will fall from $12M to $3M. The SBC would need to make up that $9M a year and provide a path for ECU to eventually recoup its $17-18M in exit fees. That likely means structuring distributions to provide ECU with ~$15-17M per year. This is all just to make it revenue-neutral from ECU.

I don't see ESPN increasing the SBC's media deal by $15M+ per year for ECU. Even if they did, I could see a lot of conflict over the idea of paying one school $15M+ while all the others are making roughly $3-4M.

The only way I see ECU moving to the SBC is if they 1) want to and 2) have a corporate sponsor that also wants them in the SBC and is going to make them whole.

I don't know how their admin could justify that move to their donors. They would be the only one that will have made a move that would be a move down financially.
A school doesn't make a move like that unless there is something wrong. Perhaps there is.
For the Sun Belt, it would be seen as a huge addition and I wouldn't blame them a bit.

(10-14-2026 08:21 PM)TealNation Wrote:  

(10-14-2026 07:03 PM)T-Dog Wrote:  The Sun Belt has been courting ECU for at least two years.

Will it work? Who knows at this point.

Considering Coastal just signed a long term football series with ECU, I'm going to say there is a 0% chance they are joining the SBC.

You realize last season was the start of a long H-H series between USM and LaTech, right? However, I see no reason ECU would be changing conferences right now. Seems like really bad journalism to me.

(10-14-2026 05:39 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

East Carolina and Charlotte are candidates, according to Brett McMurphy.

I did not read it myself (it's behind an On3 paywall), but someone was showing it on YouTube.

For those who have access to On3: https://www.on3.com/teams/miami-hurrican...re-coming/

If it were my call, I would pursue Deleware.

I know that does not excite the west and they are
Newbies to fbs but watch...

Liberty too...fits the Belt

(10-15-2026 07:26 AM)bit_9 Wrote:  App and Charlotte swap? No thank you.

I was joking. I know many App fans think we should sell our souls to get into the AAC, but I'm not sure it's the best move long term. Paying $28M to get $2M more a year knowing their TV deal will change in 4 years and the exit fees from the Big 12 schools will dry up soon is a risky play.

Should we reconsider adding a team right now given that championship games are going away? I'm thinking we'd be better off if leagues contracted some so we had a clear champion each season. Conference championship games were the reason leagues went to 12+ teams to begin with.

(10-19-2026 06:08 AM)JTApps1 Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 07:26 AM)bit_9 Wrote:  App and Charlotte swap? No thank you.

I was joking. I know many App fans think we should sell our souls to get into the AAC, but I'm not sure it's the best move long term. Paying $28M to get $2M more a year knowing their TV deal will change in 4 years and the exit fees from the Big 12 schools will dry up soon as well is a risky play.

This. I feel like JMU is going to find themselves in an undesirable situation. Marshall joined CUSA and was with Houston, SMU, Tulsa, Memphis, ECU, Southern Miss, Tulane, UCF, ect... then the conference fell completely apart. They're going to end up in what Marshall and Southern Miss wanted out of.
Would like to see the SBC ad Ohio, Delaware, and Missouri State to get to 16 and have programs that carry their state's' name. Delaware only fbs school in that state and Missouri State is only 1 of 2 in Missouri. Ohio has a giant population as well. Perception and branding can go along way.

(10-15-2026 06:27 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-14-2026 08:46 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  Could App for UNCC just trade places? They're closer to that majestic airport you know.

Seems like a fair swap. I'd welcome it.

So would App

Very likely that post PCSA once the P4 have reached their limit that almost all if not all conference realignment will stop. At that point, ESPN and others will hopefully have a vested interest in equalizing the G6 conferences more than they are now for competitive and interest purposes. Hopefully other media partners are in the mix by then as ESPN does not have unlimited funds and do not release profit or deficit numbers on the CFP while Disney will continue to tighten the reigns. They will be paying 205 million dollars (345 million minus CCG savings) more per year on the P4's CFP bringing the total to about 1.5 billion dollars. Approximately 100 million in add sales per game in the CFP (50 thirty second spots at 2 million each). As some media partners are priced out of the P4 we can only hope the G6 becomes more attractive to them as ESPN will only be able to afford or be interested in the P4 at that time. Not sure how any team we might add will increase our chances at higher payouts. We shall see. I am leaning towards Ohio as the better add but probably does not make that much difference overall.

(10-19-2026 04:38 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  If it were my call, I would pursue Deleware.

I know that does not excite the west and they are
Newbies to fbs but watch...

Liberty too...fits the Belt

The blind resume poll showed Delaware has been terrible across all sports. They seem like a Charlotte add to me. All potential with no game.

(10-14-2026 04:43 PM)Eagleholic Wrote:  I just want to point out that New Mexico State has not been mentioned and should not be mentioned. Carry on.

Oh? Don't you just love playing baseball in that launching pad of a ballpark!? Tech has nightmares from playing out there. We are 2-4 the last two times we played out there. And were lucky to grab those two wins.

(10-19-2026 08:14 AM)islandTROYtrojan Wrote:  Very likely that post PCSA once the P4 have reached their limit that almost all if not all conference realignment will stop. At that point, ESPN and others will hopefully have a vested interest in equalizing the G6 conferences more than they are now for competitive and interest purposes. Hopefully other media partners are in the mix by then as ESPN does not have unlimited funds and do not release profit or deficit numbers on the CFP while Disney will continue to tighten the reigns. They will be paying 205 million dollars (345 million minus CCG savings) more per year on the P4's CFP bringing the total to about 1.5 billion dollars. Approximately 100 million in add sales per game in the CFP (50 thirty second spots at 2 million each). As some media partners are priced out of the P4 we can only hope the G6 becomes more attractive to them as ESPN will only be able to afford or be interested in the P4 at that time. Not sure how any team we might add will increase our chances at higher payouts. We shall see. I am leaning towards Ohio as the better add but probably does not make that much difference overall.

I see the opposite happening. Once the P4 conferences establish themselves at roughly 18–20 teams each, the battle shifts to the American and PAC. Both will want to be the top G6 conference. While that lone CFP spot may be a pittance compared to what the P4 receives, it still holds value, and there is value in being the conference that consistently has the best opportunity to claim it.

The PAC probably has the better opportunity to be selective and target the schools it wants, but its current TV package is not that strong. The American has the better TV situation and an established relationship with ESPN, but it also has some baggage with its current membership and may be the conference that loses some marquee names.

Ultimately, ESPN may be the biggest decision-maker in all of this. If ESPN decides there is value in consolidating the strongest available G6 programs into one conference, its money and influence could go a long way toward determining which conference comes out on top. Conversely, if another media company decides it wants a larger presence in college football and sees value in the Pac, that could completely change the equation.

We will have a little bit of an idea with how the negotiations with the MAC, SBC, and ESPN media deals go. Does ESPN offer nice increases? Do the current members stay or leave? I

(10-14-2026 04:14 PM)monarx Wrote:  There are only two teams I care to add if they come east. First would be Delaware, and second would be WKU. Delaware has a ton of potential and expands our recruiting footprint and maybe even our media footprint. They also have good academics and when they are good a pretty nice fanbase. They arent much different from JMU and would be a good replacement. WKU is basically bringing back an old friend who you know fits well in the group. A safe choice who wouldnt leave (again). I really hope its Delaware being added.

I'm with you pretty completely here. Delaware is my top choice!

It would be so hilarious to bring in ECU as JMU goes there. I wouldnt mind bringing in Charlotte, I think they're a good fit TBH. Delaware is actually the closest thing to replacing what JMU brought though. They'd be my top choice behind ECU which I cant see happening.