So what happens next?
The AAC loses UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston to the Big 12 (who actually will have 12 teams). They are left with Memphis, SMU, East Carolina, Navy, South Florida, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, and Wichita State (no football). Not exactly a murder's row in football. They are at best "okay" in basketball. They will try to backfill, likely with teams with CUSA. So, at best, they end up being what CUSA once was. They will probably offer UAB, with other possibilities being WKU, Marshall, UTEP, LaTech, or USM. WKU would jump in a second after leaving the Sun Belt to end up in a weakened CUSA. UAB, Marshal, USM, UTEP, and LaTech would probably go if offered. CUSA would try to backfill from the Sun Belt. However, the Sun Belt would likely be stronger than what's left of CUSA and maybe able to snag 2 or 3 of the teams that AAC doesn't take out of those 5. Problem for the AAC is that Wichita, Memphis, and Temple will be desperate to get out if their basketball gets any weaker- but Memphis and Temple still need a football conference. So it likely gets pretty crazy in the coming weeks or months. I think the Sun Belt may end up okay in all this, but I wonder if this will be the time for UTA and LR to leave. I also think Wichita State will try to move to the Big East if AAC basketball gets much weaker.
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