I wonder if Delaware would request CUSA to add UMass since they are a Northeastern based school? Does Buffalo count as Northeastern or no? I don't think CUSA is in any danger of losing a team to the MAC so they MAC would be in serious trouble if you all expanded and they lose 5 total. I guess they could dip south and add a school like EKU. They'd likely be an average MAC level school of those remaining and would be one wiling to say yes in a heartbeat. Also maybe Youngstown State.

I'm NOT saying we need to attack the MAC if Miami, Toledo, & Ohio U all leave.

HOWEVER, if we did, UMass with Buffalo or WMU (football only) might not be a bad idea.

With the move to the MAC and the hire of their current head coach, UMass is finally making a commitment to football. Last season, the head coach was focused on rebuilding the strength & conditioning, and working with the university on identifying facility upgrades before he started to focus on the roster.

Whether they finally become relevant is yet to be seen, but they are only 3 wins away from making their first bowl game. They are currently 4-4, matching the most wins they have ever had at the FBS level.

UMass is actually favored in two of their upcoming games (vs. Ball State & Akron), while the Bowling Green game is a toss up. So they may have their best season ever.

Again, does that mean sustained success? No, but if they can turn it around, they have a chance to become the next UConn if they can bring both basketball & football back level of the 1990s.

UMass alumni will pour money into that program if they can prove they can win.

Just something to think about. Again, I'm NOT saying it is something we must do. But it is something that conference leadership should research and consider.

(10-27-2026 12:16 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  I wonder if Delaware would request CUSA to add UMass since they are a Northeastern based school? Does Buffalo count as Northeastern or no? I don't think CUSA is in any danger of losing a team to the MAC so they MAC would be in serious trouble if you all expanded and they lose 5 total. I guess they could dip south and add a school like EKU. They'd likely be an average MAC level school of those remaining and would be one wiling to say yes in a heartbeat. Also maybe Youngstown State.

I don't know. Delaware might REQUEST them. But I doubt Delaware would DEMAND them.

UMass is a former Delaware football rival, along with UConn & JMU (not including current FCS former rivals). Plus, UMass is a fellow flagship university and currently ranked #58 in the US News rankings.

Delaware and UMass are also competing together in:

• Summit League for Men's soccer
• MAC for Women's Rowing
• A-10 for Men's Lacross
• MAC for Field Hockey (next year)
  

So Delaware might have some interest in reuniting with UMass.

HOWEVER, UMass is still a 5-6 hour bus ride from UD (depending on traffic around NYC and CT). That's a very doable bus trip for UD & UMass, but whether the rest of the league would consider that close enough to be a travel partner with Delaware is left to be seen.

Plus, while Delaware and UMass are historically used to bus rides as long as 12 hours for olympic sports, UMass moving to CUSA would be deadly for their olympic sports without at least having Bufalo too. In the MAC, they can bus ride all their olympic sports, IF THEY CHOOSE TO, most away games.

I also wonder if Delaware being the only flagship university in the CUSA and the top academic school in the CUSA means something to UD in regards to marketing? UMass would kill those two claims Delaware has in CUSA....

(10-27-2026 12:05 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(10-27-2026 10:08 AM)Baldspot Wrote:  

(10-27-2026 09:28 AM)3DogNight Wrote:  There’s a few guys on here that believe it’s absolutely insane to even mention any additions other than FCS schools.

I think the question was posed to you - which FBS team has expressed a desire to transfer to CUSA? Let’s take a look at their viability. My guess is your list will be incredibly short but go ahead, give us your list and the reasons they would want to transfer to CUSA

My “viable” list of FBS schools would be just as long as your “viable” list of FCS schools. You act like there’s a line of qualified FCS schools begging to join CUSA. There’s not. Some of the FCS schools that’s been mentioned is laughable. Wanting to move up and actually being “viable” are two different things. There’s no reason to mention any FBS adds to you because you’re dead set against adding a FBS school. You go ahead a keep thinking small.

Let’s make it easy. What’s your top three then.

(10-27-2026 11:24 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  My Question:

If we could somehow get an existing FBS school (not a total cellar dweller)...

Would we be willing to take them as a FB-only member?

Example--WMU (excellent FB program)--but they might want to put all their other sports in the Horizon due to travel costs.

I would say Yes to a Western Michigan FB-only addition.

Short answer: I agree.

Breaking it down: Barring some substantial moves in the American, PAC, and P4, CUSA has only four possible sources for bringing in new FBS members:

1. Independents - This means UConn, and no, they're not coming. Absolutely no one with a functioning cerebral cortex would expect them to come as a full member. The Big East is a power conference in basketball. But the Huskies won't come FB-only because their basketball (men's AND women's) gives them substantial leverage in finding P4 games to round out their schedule. They make far more money doing that than they'll ever make as a CUSA member. (Or SBC... or MAC... or even AAC.)

2. The Sun Belt - Get your hackles down, Belt fans. This isn't happening, and for much the same reason why you're not getting one of us. It's a lateral move, and there currently are no geographical benefits for most teams to swap conference homes, a la La Tech. Also, if we DID manage to attract the interest of an SBC team, it most certainly would not be FB-only. Our footprints overlap too much. It'd be all-sports or nothing. Regardless, the Belt only becomes a poaching ground for CUSA if bad, bad things happen over there. (Think major AAC expansion that takes out App, Coastal, ODU, and Marshall.) But if something like that happens, it's a signal the Realignment Apocalypse is upon us, and NOTHING would be off the table at that point.

3. The MWC - UTEP ain't coming back, and we probably wouldn't want them anyway. No other MWC schools are remotely realistic. While it would be nice finding a travel partner for NMSU, the most glaring issue is this: even if we did find one, travel partners don't help in football -- only in OLY sports. And there is not a single MWC team who would be a good all-sports addition, other than UNM (not happening) and the aforementioned Miners (also not happening).

And that brings us to...

4. The MAC - The only decent all-sports candidates in the MAC (from a CUSA POV) would be Ohio and Miami. Anyone else would have to be FB-only. Now, if you limit the poaching to FB-only, you do begin to have at least a few more options. Looking at the current MAC standings:

(All rankings from Sagarin.)

Ohio - Better as an all-sports option. Likely SBC-bound, but worth a look. Ranked #98.

Toledo - Excellent FB-only choice; perhaps even a stretch for all-sports, but rumored heading West. Ranked #86.

Buffalo - Very weak in FB in recent years. Currently ranked #131. Not a good option.

Miami - Better as an all-sports option. Likely AAC-bound, but worth a look if skipped over. Ranked #110.

WMU - Excellent FB-only option. Currently ranked #83.

EMU - Only 3 winning seasons in the past 10 years. Ranked #134. Not a good option.

Ball State - #158. Not a good option.

Kent State - #157. Not a good option.

Bowling Green - #147. Not a good option.

UMass - Historically, one of the worst FBS programs. Currently #151. Not a good option.

CMU - Like EMU, only 3 winning seasons in the last 10 years. Currently #125. Not a good option.

Akron - #170. Not a good option.

Sac State - #221. Arguably the worst possible option for CUSA, but a reasonable candidate for the MW.

As of the end of Week 8 (last games played on Saturday, Oct 24), here are all of the Sun Belt, MAC, & FCS schools that rank higher than CUSA teams (not including JMU since they are going to American).

First, all CUSA team rankings:

1. Liberty - 69
2. Jax St - 107
3. Delaware - 116
4. WKU - 121
5. FIU - 123
6. New Mexico St - 126
7. Kennesaw - 137
8. Middle Tennessee - 140
9. Missouri St - 152
10. Sam Houston - 155
    

All SunBelt, MAC & FCS better than at least one CUSA school (not including JMU).
BOLD - ranked above 5th ranked FIU

• LA Tech - 78
• South Dakota State (FCS) - 79
• Youngstown St (FCS) - 81
• WMU - 83
• Montana State (FCS) - 85
• Toledo - 86
• UCONN - 89
• Louisiana - 90
• South Dakota (FCS) - 93
• Georgia Southern - 94
• SF Austin (FCS) - 97
• Ohio - 98
• North Dakota (FCS) - 99
• App State - 100
• Georgia St - 102
• South Alabama - 105
• Arkansas St- - 109
• Miami, OH - 110
• Tarleton St (FCS) - 111
• Illinois St (FCS) - 115
• Harvard (FCS) - 118
• Montana (FCS) - 119
• Coastal - 124
• Central Michigan - 125
• Austin Peay (FCS) - 127
• Northern Arizona (FCS) - 128
• Marshall - 130
• Buffalo - 131
• Troy - 132
• ODU - 133
• Eastern Michigan - 134
• Mercer (FCS) - 136
• Tennessee Tech (FCS) - 138
• Northern Iowa (FCS) - 139
• Chattanooga (FCS) - 141
• East Tennessee (FCS) - 142
• Idaho St (FCS) - 143
• Southern Miss - 144
• Incarnate Word (FCS) - 145
• Southern Illinois (FCS) - 146
• Bowling Green - 147
• Abilene Christian (FCS) - 148
• Lehigh (FCS) - 149
• Idaho (FCS) - 150
• UMass - 151
• Missouri St - 152
• Weber St (FCS) - 153
• Lamar (FCS) - 154
  

FBS schools worse than Sam Houston (any conference)

• Kent State (157)
• Ball State (158)
• ULM (167)
• Akron (170)
• Charlotte (174)
• UTEP (176)
• NIU (182)
• Sac State (221)
  

Source: http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

Oft times these things come down to MONEY.

But one area of the money not discussed much is "incentive money". Much/most of this moolah comes from large or multiple exit fees.

The MW and PAC have both used this method.

The MW still has a recruitment "fund". They helped PAY part/most of the departure costs for Both UTEP and NIU.

$$$$$$

MW--Still has a sizeable fund for this purpose.
PAC--Ditto.

American--They do have HUGE assets to incentivize adds--BUT why do that when people are paying You to join?

SBC--next to none--till JMU leaves--then will have approx. 8-10 Million to use--IF schools vote to spend all/some of it this way. Instead of distributing to members.

MAC--none--BUT--if they lose 1-3 schools...they could accumulate a recruitment fund pretty quickly. Broad estimate 5-15 Million fund.

CUSA--so far schools have chosen to have these monies divided out among remaining members...But what if we could add an FBS school that everyone wants? Some CASH could be enough to get them to join. Broad estimate 10 Million fund.

________________________________________________________________

One might argue--Yes--but's that's just a one-time payment--then it's gone.

True--but if you are "on the fence".

Example--Let's say team "X" wants to leave the MAC--but doesn't have the money for leaving (or using those dollars would put them in a terrible financial position). Conference "A" wants them for a member and offers to pay most/all of their departure costs and waive the entrance Fee. Now the deal looks doable and attractive.

Of Course there are other factors--but financial incentives can makes things workable.

According to College AD (Via a SBC podcaster)...

SBC is forming an Eight person committee.

"Preparing for 13 or 14 next year [27-28]"

"Sources have also not ruled out that the SBC could eventually expand to 16 members"

"IF (if) comm. decides to go to 16 they will take visits, etc.."



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_-ZsSWsGjg {First 5m of video}

So--it's either one or three.

Of course possibilities only include MAC, CUSA, and FCS. Other G6 members would not take a pay cut to go to the SBC.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

IMO the SBC may discover that finding additions will be tougher than they think.

Costs associated with moving will be High--especially considering SBC revenue (same or lower) and Instability (EAST schools looking to bolt) And EAST-WEST tensions/differences.

Review:

SBC----Exit fee structure has been largely increased but exact details not made official. Supposedly Marshall, APP, ODU, and even CCU are "looking around".

MAC----Exit fee structure is being re-done...New Media Deal being negotiated. Miami probable to American, Toledo (MW?), Ohio (SBC?).

CUSA---Exit fee structure has been re-worked. NO details have become available.

(10-28-2026 03:04 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  "Preparing for 13 or 14 next year [27-28]"

"Sources have also not ruled out that the SBC could eventually expand to 16 members"

"IF (if) comm. decides to go to 16 they will take visits, etc.."

So--it's either one or three.

Of course possibilities only include MAC, CUSA, and FCS. Other G6 members would not take a pay cut to go to the SBC.

13 means no additions, at least for now.

14, Plan A - Add one to the East. Possible targets: Ohio (Marshall's favorite), Liberty (direct JMU replacement, but "baggage"), Jax State (would put THREE Alabama teams in the Belt), MTSU (former SBC), Delaware (240 miles from ODU).

14, Plan B - Alternately, add a team to the West and shift troy state to the East. Possible targets: MTSU (again), WKU (former SBC, 300 miles from nearest SBC-W team), Mo State (218 miles from Ark State), Sammy (brings Texas back to the Belt, 250 miles from Ruston), Tarleton (Texas, but FCS and 350 miles from nearest SBC-W team).

15 isn't happening.

16 - If they want to preserve divisions, this means adding two to the East and one to the West, or alternately, three to the West and shifting troy state. All bets are off on how this one could come about:

Ohio + Two from CUSA
Ohio + Tarleton + One from CUSA
Tarleton + Two from CUSA
Three CUSA

I don't see any scenario where the Belt takes anyone from the MWC, and as other FCS teams go, if they're not ready for CUSA, they're not ready for the SBC. That rules out EKU, Chatty, SFA, etc., at least in the near term.

NOTE: I'm ignoring the possibility of LA teams moving down to FCS. While it could potentially happen, the odds aren't great, and if it did, it muddies the waters far, far too much to speculate here.

So what are the odds the Belt can successfully poach 1-3 teams from CUSA?

Very poor, unless ESPN allows them to renegotiate their media deal a few years early. The SBC already pays less per team than CUSA, and cutting two more slices out of that pie doesn't help their cause at all.

But if moving to 16 teams makes the network executives smile, wild things could theoretically happen. An unlikely scenario in which the media deal was renegotiated heavily in the Belt's favor could convince CUSA teams to move. And if the right combination of teams were to move to the Belt, it could strengthen that conference immensely, making it far more attractive not only to their target schools, but to ESPN.

I don't know that they have it in them.

What I think will happen is that Ohio will move, bringing them back to 14. (Ohio has been watching Miami flirting with the American and can't afford to sit back and react. Move now or be stuck in a dying/depleted MAC.)

The Belt won't add Tarleton or any other FCS team.

That leaves them with two vacancies if the move to 16 is in their plans. But they won't be able to get those two from CUSA. At least, not yet.

But after CUSA and the MAC negotiate their new deals, the SBC will get their chance. If they can convince ESPN to pay for 16, they could potentially pull someone over in the 2030s. And that's just in time for the upcoming Realignment Apocalypse.

And during an Apocalypse, anything could happen.

Seems like Tarleton would be a good candidate and give Sam a travel partner.

(10-28-2026 05:54 PM)MeanGreenStebo Wrote:  Seems like Tarleton would be a good candidate and give Sam a travel partner.

Kinda the wrong thread...

better here> https://www.csnbbs.com/thread-971871-pos...id20829656

(10-28-2026 04:36 PM)whupemall Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 03:04 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  "Preparing for 13 or 14 next year [27-28]"

"Sources have also not ruled out that the SBC could eventually expand to 16 members"

"IF (if) comm. decides to go to 16 they will take visits, etc.."

So--it's either one or three.

Of course possibilities only include MAC, CUSA, and FCS. Other G6 members would not take a pay cut to go to the SBC.

13 means no additions, at least for now.

14, Plan A - Add one to the East. Possible targets: Ohio (Marshall's favorite), Liberty (direct JMU replacement, but "baggage"), Jax State (would put THREE Alabama teams in the Belt), MTSU (former SBC), Delaware (240 miles from ODU).

14, Plan B - Alternately, add a team to the West and shift troy state to the East. Possible targets: MTSU (again), WKU (former SBC, 300 miles from nearest SBC-W team), Mo State (218 miles from Ark State), Sammy (brings Texas back to the Belt, 250 miles from Ruston), Tarleton (Texas, but FCS and 350 miles from nearest SBC-W team).

15 isn't happening.

16 - If they want to preserve divisions, this means adding two to the East and one to the West, or alternately, three to the West and shifting troy state. All bets are off on how this one could come about:

Ohio + Two from CUSA
Ohio + Tarleton + One from CUSA
Tarleton + Two from CUSA
Three CUSA

I don't see any scenario where the Belt takes anyone from the MWC, and as other FCS teams go, if they're not ready for CUSA, they're not ready for the SBC. That rules out EKU, Chatty, SFA, etc., at least in the near term.

NOTE: I'm ignoring the possibility of LA teams moving down to FCS. While it could potentially happen, the odds aren't great, and if it did, it muddies the waters far, far too much to speculate here.

So what are the odds the Belt can successfully poach 1-3 teams from CUSA?

Very poor, unless ESPN allows them to renegotiate their media deal a few years early. The SBC already pays less per team than CUSA, and cutting two more slices out of that pie doesn't help their cause at all.

But if moving to 16 teams makes the network executives smile, wild things could theoretically happen. An unlikely scenario in which the media deal was renegotiated heavily in the Belt's favor could convince CUSA teams to move. And if the right combination of teams were to move to the Belt, it could strengthen that conference immensely, making it far more attractive not only to their target schools, but to ESPN.

I don't know that they have it in them.

What I think will happen is that Ohio will move, bringing them back to 14. (Ohio has been watching Miami flirting with the American and can't afford to sit back and react. Move now or be stuck in a dying/depleted MAC.)

The Belt won't add Tarleton or any other FCS team.

That leaves them with two vacancies if the move to 16 is in their plans. But they won't be able to get those two from CUSA. At least, not yet.

But after CUSA and the MAC negotiate their new deals, the SBC will get their chance. If they can convince ESPN to pay for 16, they could potentially pull someone over in the 2030s. And that's just in time for the upcoming Realignment Apocalypse.

And during an Apocalypse, anything could happen.

As a JMU fan, I have no real dog in the fight as to which school(s) the SBC adds. But a couple things to point out...

The SBC does currently distribute less per school than CUSA, but it's unclear how long that situation will persist. It appears that the majority of CUSA distributions over the last couple of years have come for exit fees paid by the 10 members who have left the conference. That's not a sustainable revenue stream and it's unclear whether a team joining in July 2028, for example, would even receive any exit fees in their FY29 distribution. I suspect that once the exit fees run dry, CUSA and SBC distributions roughly equalize. Schools currently in CUSA are aware of when the exit fee gravy train comes to an end.

Also, it's been reported that ESPN is increasing the American media deal to help avoid dilution from the addition of JMU. If they saw it as beneficial to add teams to the SBC, I assume they would do the same.

(10-29-2026 07:25 PM)We Are the Dukes of JMU Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 04:36 PM)whupemall Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 03:04 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  "Preparing for 13 or 14 next year [27-28]"

"Sources have also not ruled out that the SBC could eventually expand to 16 members"

"IF (if) comm. decides to go to 16 they will take visits, etc.."

So--it's either one or three.

Of course possibilities only include MAC, CUSA, and FCS. Other G6 members would not take a pay cut to go to the SBC.

13 means no additions, at least for now.

14, Plan A - Add one to the East. Possible targets: Ohio (Marshall's favorite), Liberty (direct JMU replacement, but "baggage"), Jax State (would put THREE Alabama teams in the Belt), MTSU (former SBC), Delaware (240 miles from ODU).

14, Plan B - Alternately, add a team to the West and shift troy state to the East. Possible targets: MTSU (again), WKU (former SBC, 300 miles from nearest SBC-W team), Mo State (218 miles from Ark State), Sammy (brings Texas back to the Belt, 250 miles from Ruston), Tarleton (Texas, but FCS and 350 miles from nearest SBC-W team).

15 isn't happening.

16 - If they want to preserve divisions, this means adding two to the East and one to the West, or alternately, three to the West and shifting troy state. All bets are off on how this one could come about:

Ohio + Two from CUSA
Ohio + Tarleton + One from CUSA
Tarleton + Two from CUSA
Three CUSA

I don't see any scenario where the Belt takes anyone from the MWC, and as other FCS teams go, if they're not ready for CUSA, they're not ready for the SBC. That rules out EKU, Chatty, SFA, etc., at least in the near term.

NOTE: I'm ignoring the possibility of LA teams moving down to FCS. While it could potentially happen, the odds aren't great, and if it did, it muddies the waters far, far too much to speculate here.

So what are the odds the Belt can successfully poach 1-3 teams from CUSA?

Very poor, unless ESPN allows them to renegotiate their media deal a few years early. The SBC already pays less per team than CUSA, and cutting two more slices out of that pie doesn't help their cause at all.

But if moving to 16 teams makes the network executives smile, wild things could theoretically happen. An unlikely scenario in which the media deal was renegotiated heavily in the Belt's favor could convince CUSA teams to move. And if the right combination of teams were to move to the Belt, it could strengthen that conference immensely, making it far more attractive not only to their target schools, but to ESPN.

I don't know that they have it in them.

What I think will happen is that Ohio will move, bringing them back to 14. (Ohio has been watching Miami flirting with the American and can't afford to sit back and react. Move now or be stuck in a dying/depleted MAC.)

The Belt won't add Tarleton or any other FCS team.

That leaves them with two vacancies if the move to 16 is in their plans. But they won't be able to get those two from CUSA. At least, not yet.

But after CUSA and the MAC negotiate their new deals, the SBC will get their chance. If they can convince ESPN to pay for 16, they could potentially pull someone over in the 2030s. And that's just in time for the upcoming Realignment Apocalypse.

And during an Apocalypse, anything could happen.

As a JMU fan, I have no real dog in the fight as to which school(s) the SBC adds. But a couple things to point out...

The SBC does currently distribute less per school than CUSA, but it's unclear how long that situation will persist. It appears that the majority of CUSA distributions over the last couple of years have come for exit fees paid by the 10 members who have left the conference. That's not a sustainable revenue stream and it's unclear whether a team joining in July 2028, for example, would even receive any exit fees in their FY29 distribution. I suspect that once the exit fees run dry, CUSA and SBC distributions roughly equalize. Schools currently in CUSA are aware of when the exit fee gravy train comes to an end.

Also, it's been reported that ESPN is increasing the American media deal to help avoid dilution from the addition of JMU. If they saw it as beneficial to add teams to the SBC, I assume they would do the same.

I keep seeing this and it's almost exclusively from the sun belters. I hope you'll relay this to them. Exit fees are withholdings, not new revenue. Exit fees are paid by the conference withholding the annual distributions that a departing member would usually receive. It's not a check the departing team pays, nor is it an annuity received by the conference. The pie doesn't get bigger because of exit fees. Everybody else's slice gets bigger. It's not going to drop off because a year or two went by. The exit fees from the departing members have already been paid up years ago. This league is not being kept afloat by annual checks from UAB, Charlotte, Marshall, ODU, etc. That's ridiculous.

(10-29-2026 07:36 PM)smith79jordan Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 07:25 PM)We Are the Dukes of JMU Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 04:36 PM)whupemall Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 03:04 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  "Preparing for 13 or 14 next year [27-28]"

"Sources have also not ruled out that the SBC could eventually expand to 16 members"

"IF (if) comm. decides to go to 16 they will take visits, etc.."

So--it's either one or three.

Of course possibilities only include MAC, CUSA, and FCS. Other G6 members would not take a pay cut to go to the SBC.

13 means no additions, at least for now.

14, Plan A - Add one to the East. Possible targets: Ohio (Marshall's favorite), Liberty (direct JMU replacement, but "baggage"), Jax State (would put THREE Alabama teams in the Belt), MTSU (former SBC), Delaware (240 miles from ODU).

14, Plan B - Alternately, add a team to the West and shift troy state to the East. Possible targets: MTSU (again), WKU (former SBC, 300 miles from nearest SBC-W team), Mo State (218 miles from Ark State), Sammy (brings Texas back to the Belt, 250 miles from Ruston), Tarleton (Texas, but FCS and 350 miles from nearest SBC-W team).

15 isn't happening.

16 - If they want to preserve divisions, this means adding two to the East and one to the West, or alternately, three to the West and shifting troy state. All bets are off on how this one could come about:

Ohio + Two from CUSA
Ohio + Tarleton + One from CUSA
Tarleton + Two from CUSA
Three CUSA

I don't see any scenario where the Belt takes anyone from the MWC, and as other FCS teams go, if they're not ready for CUSA, they're not ready for the SBC. That rules out EKU, Chatty, SFA, etc., at least in the near term.

NOTE: I'm ignoring the possibility of LA teams moving down to FCS. While it could potentially happen, the odds aren't great, and if it did, it muddies the waters far, far too much to speculate here.

So what are the odds the Belt can successfully poach 1-3 teams from CUSA?

Very poor, unless ESPN allows them to renegotiate their media deal a few years early. The SBC already pays less per team than CUSA, and cutting two more slices out of that pie doesn't help their cause at all.

But if moving to 16 teams makes the network executives smile, wild things could theoretically happen. An unlikely scenario in which the media deal was renegotiated heavily in the Belt's favor could convince CUSA teams to move. And if the right combination of teams were to move to the Belt, it could strengthen that conference immensely, making it far more attractive not only to their target schools, but to ESPN.

I don't know that they have it in them.

What I think will happen is that Ohio will move, bringing them back to 14. (Ohio has been watching Miami flirting with the American and can't afford to sit back and react. Move now or be stuck in a dying/depleted MAC.)

The Belt won't add Tarleton or any other FCS team.

That leaves them with two vacancies if the move to 16 is in their plans. But they won't be able to get those two from CUSA. At least, not yet.

But after CUSA and the MAC negotiate their new deals, the SBC will get their chance. If they can convince ESPN to pay for 16, they could potentially pull someone over in the 2030s. And that's just in time for the upcoming Realignment Apocalypse.

And during an Apocalypse, anything could happen.

As a JMU fan, I have no real dog in the fight as to which school(s) the SBC adds. But a couple things to point out...

The SBC does currently distribute less per school than CUSA, but it's unclear how long that situation will persist. It appears that the majority of CUSA distributions over the last couple of years have come for exit fees paid by the 10 members who have left the conference. That's not a sustainable revenue stream and it's unclear whether a team joining in July 2028, for example, would even receive any exit fees in their FY29 distribution. I suspect that once the exit fees run dry, CUSA and SBC distributions roughly equalize. Schools currently in CUSA are aware of when the exit fee gravy train comes to an end.

Also, it's been reported that ESPN is increasing the American media deal to help avoid dilution from the addition of JMU. If they saw it as beneficial to add teams to the SBC, I assume they would do the same.

I keep seeing this and it's almost exclusively from the sun belters. I hope you'll relay this to them. Exit fees are withholdings, not new revenue. Exit fees are paid by the conference withholding the annual distributions that a departing member would usually receive. It's not a check the departing team pays, nor is it an annuity received by the conference. The pie doesn't get bigger because of exit fees. Everybody else's slice gets bigger. It's not going to drop off because a year or two went by. The exit fees from the departing members have already been paid up years ago. This league is not being kept afloat by annual checks from UAB, Charlotte, Marshall, ODU, etc. That's ridiculous.

The net result is the same.

CUSA >> UAB et al >> CUSA >> CUSA Members

is ultimately the same as

CUSA >> CUSA Members

Withholding funds rather than distributing them to UAB et al so they can pay the funds back to CUSA to distribute to other members results in the same net cash flows.

The point is, there is a one-time ~$80M windfall that is being distributed to CUSA members at present. That is not ongoing operating income. How different SBC and CUSA distributions look once that windfall is exhausted is TBD, but that windfall will eventually be exhausted.

JMU poster. You are leaving out So many items.

Here are just Two. I could list several others.

1--Conference "moving costs">>Even IF CUSA and SBC distributions are about the same--it takes a Long time to make up for the departure costs. Estimate 8-10 Million (maybe Higher with new CUSA exit structure). With NIL and everybody on a tight budget--we don't have the ability to set Fire to that kind of Money loss. The only schools that can afford this are JMU (corporate sponsors) and Liberty.

2--Simple Math; 14 pieces of Revenue Pie Or 10 pieces--which is much larger?

Just to piggyback on the “exit fee” premise. U Delaware is facing $250 budget shortfall (many universities facing similar situation). This week announced voluntary severance packages before actual layoffs which they indicated would be a “significant disruption” to the university. Anyone think they’re interested in explaining to their faculty/staff why they’d pay CUSA’s $8 million+ “moving cost” to join a conference with similar media deal at this moment? This after just paying $5 million to join FBS plus whatever CUSA entrance fee was two years ago.

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/new...a-ds=sophi

(10-29-2026 09:31 PM)We Are the Dukes of JMU Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 07:36 PM)smith79jordan Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 07:25 PM)We Are the Dukes of JMU Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 04:36 PM)whupemall Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 03:04 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  "Preparing for 13 or 14 next year [27-28]"

"Sources have also not ruled out that the SBC could eventually expand to 16 members"

"IF (if) comm. decides to go to 16 they will take visits, etc.."

So--it's either one or three.

Of course possibilities only include MAC, CUSA, and FCS. Other G6 members would not take a pay cut to go to the SBC.

13 means no additions, at least for now.

14, Plan A - Add one to the East. Possible targets: Ohio (Marshall's favorite), Liberty (direct JMU replacement, but "baggage"), Jax State (would put THREE Alabama teams in the Belt), MTSU (former SBC), Delaware (240 miles from ODU).

14, Plan B - Alternately, add a team to the West and shift troy state to the East. Possible targets: MTSU (again), WKU (former SBC, 300 miles from nearest SBC-W team), Mo State (218 miles from Ark State), Sammy (brings Texas back to the Belt, 250 miles from Ruston), Tarleton (Texas, but FCS and 350 miles from nearest SBC-W team).

15 isn't happening.

16 - If they want to preserve divisions, this means adding two to the East and one to the West, or alternately, three to the West and shifting troy state. All bets are off on how this one could come about:

Ohio + Two from CUSA
Ohio + Tarleton + One from CUSA
Tarleton + Two from CUSA
Three CUSA

I don't see any scenario where the Belt takes anyone from the MWC, and as other FCS teams go, if they're not ready for CUSA, they're not ready for the SBC. That rules out EKU, Chatty, SFA, etc., at least in the near term.

NOTE: I'm ignoring the possibility of LA teams moving down to FCS. While it could potentially happen, the odds aren't great, and if it did, it muddies the waters far, far too much to speculate here.

So what are the odds the Belt can successfully poach 1-3 teams from CUSA?

Very poor, unless ESPN allows them to renegotiate their media deal a few years early. The SBC already pays less per team than CUSA, and cutting two more slices out of that pie doesn't help their cause at all.

But if moving to 16 teams makes the network executives smile, wild things could theoretically happen. An unlikely scenario in which the media deal was renegotiated heavily in the Belt's favor could convince CUSA teams to move. And if the right combination of teams were to move to the Belt, it could strengthen that conference immensely, making it far more attractive not only to their target schools, but to ESPN.

I don't know that they have it in them.

What I think will happen is that Ohio will move, bringing them back to 14. (Ohio has been watching Miami flirting with the American and can't afford to sit back and react. Move now or be stuck in a dying/depleted MAC.)

The Belt won't add Tarleton or any other FCS team.

That leaves them with two vacancies if the move to 16 is in their plans. But they won't be able to get those two from CUSA. At least, not yet.

But after CUSA and the MAC negotiate their new deals, the SBC will get their chance. If they can convince ESPN to pay for 16, they could potentially pull someone over in the 2030s. And that's just in time for the upcoming Realignment Apocalypse.

And during an Apocalypse, anything could happen.

As a JMU fan, I have no real dog in the fight as to which school(s) the SBC adds. But a couple things to point out...

The SBC does currently distribute less per school than CUSA, but it's unclear how long that situation will persist. It appears that the majority of CUSA distributions over the last couple of years have come for exit fees paid by the 10 members who have left the conference. That's not a sustainable revenue stream and it's unclear whether a team joining in July 2028, for example, would even receive any exit fees in their FY29 distribution. I suspect that once the exit fees run dry, CUSA and SBC distributions roughly equalize. Schools currently in CUSA are aware of when the exit fee gravy train comes to an end.

Also, it's been reported that ESPN is increasing the American media deal to help avoid dilution from the addition of JMU. If they saw it as beneficial to add teams to the SBC, I assume they would do the same.

I keep seeing this and it's almost exclusively from the sun belters. I hope you'll relay this to them. Exit fees are withholdings, not new revenue. Exit fees are paid by the conference withholding the annual distributions that a departing member would usually receive. It's not a check the departing team pays, nor is it an annuity received by the conference. The pie doesn't get bigger because of exit fees. Everybody else's slice gets bigger. It's not going to drop off because a year or two went by. The exit fees from the departing members have already been paid up years ago. This league is not being kept afloat by annual checks from UAB, Charlotte, Marshall, ODU, etc. That's ridiculous.

The net result is the same.

CUSA >> UAB et al >> CUSA >> CUSA Members

is ultimately the same as

CUSA >> CUSA Members

Withholding funds rather than distributing them to UAB et al so they can pay the funds back to CUSA to distribute to other members results in the same net cash flows.

The point is, there is a one-time ~$80M windfall that is being distributed to CUSA members at present. That is not ongoing operating income. How different SBC and CUSA distributions look once that windfall is exhausted is TBD, but that windfall will eventually be exhausted.

The point is the windfall is not a one time deal unless members are added.
50 million divide by 14 equals $3.571 million while 50 million divided by 10 equals $5 million. Revenue the same just the mouths eating are less.

CUSA added a few members to keep the media partners happy and divided the pie by less eaters.

Going forward the membership is the same until we add or lose someone and the revenue appears to not be going down possibly up. CUSA has a total potential viewership in the states represented of around 39 million while the SBC has 23 million and MAC is 33 million. Understand none will come anywhere close to getting half much less all to watch. But the members of these conferences all garner about the same amount of interest in their given state. Would expect with our membership adds including the additions of Georgia, Delaware and Missouri our package will be much more inviting to the media. Do understand we had some at the last negotiation table but the conference was behind the timing eight ball.

One last point, most of the members were not in on the windfall and two which were have left. DBU to my knowledge didnt pay an exit fee and Delaware didnt pay an entrance fee. Did the SBC collect entrance fees from the SBC3 if so these will be falling off the revenue source list and we will see the SBC distributions going down.

(10-29-2026 09:31 PM)We Are the Dukes of JMU Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 07:36 PM)smith79jordan Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 07:25 PM)We Are the Dukes of JMU Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 04:36 PM)whupemall Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 03:04 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  "Preparing for 13 or 14 next year [27-28]"

"Sources have also not ruled out that the SBC could eventually expand to 16 members"

"IF (if) comm. decides to go to 16 they will take visits, etc.."

So--it's either one or three.

Of course possibilities only include MAC, CUSA, and FCS. Other G6 members would not take a pay cut to go to the SBC.

13 means no additions, at least for now.

14, Plan A - Add one to the East. Possible targets: Ohio (Marshall's favorite), Liberty (direct JMU replacement, but "baggage"), Jax State (would put THREE Alabama teams in the Belt), MTSU (former SBC), Delaware (240 miles from ODU).

14, Plan B - Alternately, add a team to the West and shift troy state to the East. Possible targets: MTSU (again), WKU (former SBC, 300 miles from nearest SBC-W team), Mo State (218 miles from Ark State), Sammy (brings Texas back to the Belt, 250 miles from Ruston), Tarleton (Texas, but FCS and 350 miles from nearest SBC-W team).

15 isn't happening.

16 - If they want to preserve divisions, this means adding two to the East and one to the West, or alternately, three to the West and shifting troy state. All bets are off on how this one could come about:

Ohio + Two from CUSA
Ohio + Tarleton + One from CUSA
Tarleton + Two from CUSA
Three CUSA

I don't see any scenario where the Belt takes anyone from the MWC, and as other FCS teams go, if they're not ready for CUSA, they're not ready for the SBC. That rules out EKU, Chatty, SFA, etc., at least in the near term.

NOTE: I'm ignoring the possibility of LA teams moving down to FCS. While it could potentially happen, the odds aren't great, and if it did, it muddies the waters far, far too much to speculate here.

So what are the odds the Belt can successfully poach 1-3 teams from CUSA?

Very poor, unless ESPN allows them to renegotiate their media deal a few years early. The SBC already pays less per team than CUSA, and cutting two more slices out of that pie doesn't help their cause at all.

But if moving to 16 teams makes the network executives smile, wild things could theoretically happen. An unlikely scenario in which the media deal was renegotiated heavily in the Belt's favor could convince CUSA teams to move. And if the right combination of teams were to move to the Belt, it could strengthen that conference immensely, making it far more attractive not only to their target schools, but to ESPN.

I don't know that they have it in them.

What I think will happen is that Ohio will move, bringing them back to 14. (Ohio has been watching Miami flirting with the American and can't afford to sit back and react. Move now or be stuck in a dying/depleted MAC.)

The Belt won't add Tarleton or any other FCS team.

That leaves them with two vacancies if the move to 16 is in their plans. But they won't be able to get those two from CUSA. At least, not yet.

But after CUSA and the MAC negotiate their new deals, the SBC will get their chance. If they can convince ESPN to pay for 16, they could potentially pull someone over in the 2030s. And that's just in time for the upcoming Realignment Apocalypse.

And during an Apocalypse, anything could happen.

As a JMU fan, I have no real dog in the fight as to which school(s) the SBC adds. But a couple things to point out...

The SBC does currently distribute less per school than CUSA, but it's unclear how long that situation will persist. It appears that the majority of CUSA distributions over the last couple of years have come for exit fees paid by the 10 members who have left the conference. That's not a sustainable revenue stream and it's unclear whether a team joining in July 2028, for example, would even receive any exit fees in their FY29 distribution. I suspect that once the exit fees run dry, CUSA and SBC distributions roughly equalize. Schools currently in CUSA are aware of when the exit fee gravy train comes to an end.

Also, it's been reported that ESPN is increasing the American media deal to help avoid dilution from the addition of JMU. If they saw it as beneficial to add teams to the SBC, I assume they would do the same.

I keep seeing this and it's almost exclusively from the sun belters. I hope you'll relay this to them. Exit fees are withholdings, not new revenue. Exit fees are paid by the conference withholding the annual distributions that a departing member would usually receive. It's not a check the departing team pays, nor is it an annuity received by the conference. The pie doesn't get bigger because of exit fees. Everybody else's slice gets bigger. It's not going to drop off because a year or two went by. The exit fees from the departing members have already been paid up years ago. This league is not being kept afloat by annual checks from UAB, Charlotte, Marshall, ODU, etc. That's ridiculous.

The net result is the same.

CUSA >> UAB et al >> CUSA >> CUSA Members

is ultimately the same as

CUSA >> CUSA Members

Withholding funds rather than distributing them to UAB et al so they can pay the funds back to CUSA to distribute to other members results in the same net cash flows.

The point is, there is a one-time ~$80M windfall that is being distributed to CUSA members at present. That is not ongoing operating income. How different SBC and CUSA distributions look once that windfall is exhausted is TBD, but that windfall will eventually be exhausted.

Again, it's not new money. It's withholding existing money. There is no one-time windfall. I think you and the belters have a fundamental misunderstanding of what exit fees are and how they're paid.

(10-30-2026 11:35 AM)smith79jordan Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 09:31 PM)We Are the Dukes of JMU Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 07:36 PM)smith79jordan Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 07:25 PM)We Are the Dukes of JMU Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 04:36 PM)whupemall Wrote:  13 means no additions, at least for now.

14, Plan A - Add one to the East. Possible targets: Ohio (Marshall's favorite), Liberty (direct JMU replacement, but "baggage"), Jax State (would put THREE Alabama teams in the Belt), MTSU (former SBC), Delaware (240 miles from ODU).

14, Plan B - Alternately, add a team to the West and shift troy state to the East. Possible targets: MTSU (again), WKU (former SBC, 300 miles from nearest SBC-W team), Mo State (218 miles from Ark State), Sammy (brings Texas back to the Belt, 250 miles from Ruston), Tarleton (Texas, but FCS and 350 miles from nearest SBC-W team).

15 isn't happening.

16 - If they want to preserve divisions, this means adding two to the East and one to the West, or alternately, three to the West and shifting troy state. All bets are off on how this one could come about:

Ohio + Two from CUSA
Ohio + Tarleton + One from CUSA
Tarleton + Two from CUSA
Three CUSA

I don't see any scenario where the Belt takes anyone from the MWC, and as other FCS teams go, if they're not ready for CUSA, they're not ready for the SBC. That rules out EKU, Chatty, SFA, etc., at least in the near term.

NOTE: I'm ignoring the possibility of LA teams moving down to FCS. While it could potentially happen, the odds aren't great, and if it did, it muddies the waters far, far too much to speculate here.

So what are the odds the Belt can successfully poach 1-3 teams from CUSA?

Very poor, unless ESPN allows them to renegotiate their media deal a few years early. The SBC already pays less per team than CUSA, and cutting two more slices out of that pie doesn't help their cause at all.

But if moving to 16 teams makes the network executives smile, wild things could theoretically happen. An unlikely scenario in which the media deal was renegotiated heavily in the Belt's favor could convince CUSA teams to move. And if the right combination of teams were to move to the Belt, it could strengthen that conference immensely, making it far more attractive not only to their target schools, but to ESPN.

I don't know that they have it in them.

What I think will happen is that Ohio will move, bringing them back to 14. (Ohio has been watching Miami flirting with the American and can't afford to sit back and react. Move now or be stuck in a dying/depleted MAC.)

The Belt won't add Tarleton or any other FCS team.

That leaves them with two vacancies if the move to 16 is in their plans. But they won't be able to get those two from CUSA. At least, not yet.

But after CUSA and the MAC negotiate their new deals, the SBC will get their chance. If they can convince ESPN to pay for 16, they could potentially pull someone over in the 2030s. And that's just in time for the upcoming Realignment Apocalypse.

And during an Apocalypse, anything could happen.

As a JMU fan, I have no real dog in the fight as to which school(s) the SBC adds. But a couple things to point out...

The SBC does currently distribute less per school than CUSA, but it's unclear how long that situation will persist. It appears that the majority of CUSA distributions over the last couple of years have come for exit fees paid by the 10 members who have left the conference. That's not a sustainable revenue stream and it's unclear whether a team joining in July 2028, for example, would even receive any exit fees in their FY29 distribution. I suspect that once the exit fees run dry, CUSA and SBC distributions roughly equalize. Schools currently in CUSA are aware of when the exit fee gravy train comes to an end.

Also, it's been reported that ESPN is increasing the American media deal to help avoid dilution from the addition of JMU. If they saw it as beneficial to add teams to the SBC, I assume they would do the same.

I keep seeing this and it's almost exclusively from the sun belters. I hope you'll relay this to them. Exit fees are withholdings, not new revenue. Exit fees are paid by the conference withholding the annual distributions that a departing member would usually receive. It's not a check the departing team pays, nor is it an annuity received by the conference. The pie doesn't get bigger because of exit fees. Everybody else's slice gets bigger. It's not going to drop off because a year or two went by. The exit fees from the departing members have already been paid up years ago. This league is not being kept afloat by annual checks from UAB, Charlotte, Marshall, ODU, etc. That's ridiculous.

The net result is the same.

CUSA >> UAB et al >> CUSA >> CUSA Members

is ultimately the same as

CUSA >> CUSA Members

Withholding funds rather than distributing them to UAB et al so they can pay the funds back to CUSA to distribute to other members results in the same net cash flows.

The point is, there is a one-time ~$80M windfall that is being distributed to CUSA members at present. That is not ongoing operating income. How different SBC and CUSA distributions look once that windfall is exhausted is TBD, but that windfall will eventually be exhausted.

Again, it's not new money. It's withholding existing money. There is no one-time windfall. I think you and the belters have a fundamental misunderstanding of what exit fees are and how they're paid.

It is supposed to be a witholding of two distributions over a 14 month notice period. Many have left early which led to it becoming something similar to a "fee". The sentiment remains the same though. It is a similar "pot" of money just being split fewer ways. There are some sources of money that will dry up (entrance fees, FAU FF money, Liberty NY6 money, etc) but that money has never been "the majority" of what is distributed. It has just been a nice bonus while it's lasted.


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