RE: Change with the Bahamas Bowl
So, SBC versus CUSA bowls
SBC - New Orleans (vs CUSA), GoDaddy (vs MAC), Camellia (vs MAC), Cure Orlando (vs AAC). Plus a one off with the Boca/Miami Beach Bowl.
CUSA - Heart of Dallas (vs a P5 team, if one is available), Hawai'i (MAC), Beef O Brady (vs AAC), New Orleans (vs Sun Belt), Boca Raton (vs MAC), Bahamas (vs MAC). And apparently some one offs and backups with the Independence Bowl and the Miami Beach Bowl?
So they have 14 members and one potential match up versus the 9th or 10th pick from the B1G or Big XII which might not hit eligibility many years? Plus, two bowls that will guarantee to crater an athletic budget versus the MAC, one bowl versus the AAC, one bowl in their footprint versus the MAC, and one versus the Sun Belt.
So we have 11 members (9 bowl eligible) and 4 locked down slots with the AAC, MAC (2), and SBC?
Drivable games for our members (less than 12 hours by car): New Orleans Bowl (for all teams but NMSU and Idaho), Camellia Bowl (all teams but NMSU and Idaho), Go Daddy (all teams but NMSU and Idaho) and Orlando (drivable for USA, ULL, ULM, Ga State, Troy, Ga Southern, and App).
CUSA drivable games. Bahamas (none), Hawai'i (none), New Orleans (all except FIU, FAU, UTEP, UNCC, ODU and Marshall), Heart of Dallas (all except Marshall, ODU, UNCC, FIU, and FAU), Beef O Brady's (except UNT, UTEP, UTSA, Marshall, Rice, and La Tech), Boca (UNCC, FIU, FAU only).
Other than the P5 tie in (nominal in many years) in the Heart of Dallas, there's really no advantage there. I'd say there's a disadvantage.
Local Bowls (Less than 4 hours drive - doable without a hotel)
Sun Belt - Go Daddy (ULL, USA, Troy), Camellia (USA, Troy, Ga State), New Orleans (USA, ULL, ULM), Orlando (none but many drivable)
CUSA - Heart of Dallas (UTSA, UNT, Rice, La Tech), Boca (FIU, FAU), New Orleans (USM), Hawai'i (none), Bahamas (none)
I think CUSA just committed another own goal with that lineup
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