(01-25-2022 07:53 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(01-25-2022 07:40 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  From a competition aspect, CUSA is a very solid conference. The big knock on CUSA like many FBS conferences is it's spread out across States without many "natural" rivalries. However, UTEP and NMSU have a rivalry and probably WKU and MTSU probably have one as well. If another Texas school (SFA or Tarleton) joined CUSA in the future another natural rivalry could/would be added with Sam Houston. And, maybe the deep South schools (Louisiana Tech, Jacksonville State, and Florida International) could create some rivalries... and everyone hates Liberty.

I will miss the WAC. It was finally developing an identity again with the addition of the Texas and Utah schools.

In basketball, CUSA won’t be any worse off than they currently are now. Will still be a Top 15ish basketball league. With less teams than currently, it might be a better scenario for UTEP, WKU, MTSU, and LaTech - FIU is hopeless no matter what.

Football, is another story though. CUSA will (and should be) the worst FBS conference there is. If Liberty comes in and starts smoking teams, that’s all you need to know about it’s quality and future.

Liberty would probably be dominant in CUSA even if no one left the conference. Liberty has a very deep revenue well to draw from. But looking at last season's bowl results, CUSA is left in decent shape...

Bahamas Bowl... Middle Tennessee (7-6) 31 ... Toledo (7-6) 24
Boca Raton Bowl... Western Kentucky (9-5) 59 ... Appalachian State (10-4) 38
New Mexico Bowl... Fresno State (10-3) 31 ... UTEP (7-6) 24
Lending Tree Bowl... Liberty (8-5) 56 ... Eastern Michigan (7-6) 20

Former-to-be CUSA members
Independence Bowl... UAB (9-5) 31 ... BYU (10-3) 28
New Orleans Bowl... Louisiana (13-1) 36 ... Marshall (7-6) 21
Myrtle Beach Bowl... Tulsa (7-6) 30 ... Old Dominion (6-7) 17
Frisco Bowl... San Diego State (12-2) 38 ... UTSA (12-2) 24
Frisco Football Classic... Miami (OH) (7-6) 27 ... North Texas (6-7) 14

Sam Houston (10-1) is a very strong FCS program. And both New Mexico State (Jerry Kill) and Jacksonville State (Rich Rodriquez) had notable coaching hires.