RE: Pac-16 Play-by-Play: How would realignment have shaken out in a Pac-16 scenario?
Alternately, the 3 remaining Big 12 schools left in 2011 seek refuge in the Big East, no doubt displeasing the C7. TCU is invited a year earlier than in our timeline to make 12 FB schools. The BE exists as a 20-member circuit for 2 uneasy seasons, but does manage to get a couple CCGs out of it. Boise State replaces TCU in the MWC.
Big East (2011)
East: Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, West Virginia
West: Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville, TCU
NFB: DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's, Villanova
MWC (2011)
Air Force, Boise State, BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah, Wyoming
WAC (2011)
Fresno State, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Utah State
The MWC picks off Fresno State, Hawaii FB (NFB to BW), and Nevada from the WAC in 2012. The WAC can only replace them with Texas State and UTSA, leaving them non-compliant with FBS at 7 schools for 2012.
As in our timeline, Pitt/Syracuse/non-FB ND to the ACC in 2013. The C7 splits off with the Big East name, and the remaining schools adopt the abandoned Big 12 name. The new Big 12 adds Houston and UCF to stay true to their name. CUSA in turn picks up FIU and UTSA, while the Sun Belt adds Georgia State and Texas State. The WAC has only 5 FB members for 2013 and no further expansion prospects, but they limp along for the second and final permitted straight season of non-compliance before the conference drops FB.
Big 12 (2013)
East: Central Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Rutgers, South Florida, West Virginia
West: Baylor, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville, TCU
CUSA (2013)
East: East Carolina, FIU, Marshall, Memphis, Southern Miss, UAB
West: Rice, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa, UTEP, UTSA
NFB: Charlotte, Old Dominion
MWC (2013)
Mountain: Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
West: Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii*, Nevada, UNLV, San Diego State
Sun Belt (2013)
FB: Arkansas State, FAU, Georgia State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, Western Kentucky
NFB: Little Rock
WAC (2013)
FB: Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Utah State
NFB: CSU Bakersfield, Grand Canyon, Seattle, Texas-Arlington, Utah Valley
Also as in our timeline, Maryland and Rutgers go to the Big Ten and Louisville to the ACC in 2014. The Big 12 adds Memphis for 2014 and Navy FB for 2015. CUSA adds Louisiana Tech to replace Memphis, while the Sun Belt brings on NMSU as a FB affiliate to balance out non-FB UALR and reach 12 FB members.
Big 12 (2015)
East: Central Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Memphis, South Florida, West Virginia
West: Baylor, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, Navy*, TCU
CUSA (2015)
East: Charlotte, East Carolina, FIU, Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss
West: Louisiana Tech, Rice, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa, UTEP, UTSA
NFB: UAB (readds FB for 2017)
Sun Belt (2015)
East: FAU, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Troy, Western Kentucky
West: Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, New Mexico State*, North Texas, Texas State
NFB: Little Rock
When UConn leaves the Big 12 in 2020 for the Big East, Temple (MAC FB, A-10 NFB) is added by the Big 12, leading to the other MAC FB affiliate, UMass, going FBS independent. In the meantime, Idaho has dropped down to the FCS Big Sky, while SJSU drops FB and joins the Big West along with UC San Diego. Utah State sticks it out as an FBS independent, anchoring their schedule on annual games with BYU and Utah. The MWC lands Gonzaga as a non-FB member. The ACC, Big Ten, and SEC are the same as in our timeline.
(This post was last modified: 11-22-2020 06:20 PM by Nerdlinger.)
|