(09-13-2016 10:42 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(09-12-2016 12:47 PM)panama Wrote:  Gotta believe UMass gets in before NIU

This.

(09-13-2016 09:49 PM)CarlSmithCenter Wrote:  UMass's best chance to get in the AAC is if somehow the Big 12 takes an odd number of AAC teams, either one or all three of Cincy Houston and UConn, along with BYU. That would leave the AAC with either 8 all sports/9 in football or 10 all sports/11 football. There would be no reason for the AAC to add anyone if they only lost two teams as they could still hold a CCG in football; no duo of UMass and either NIU, Rice, USM etc. would improve basketball or football completion or television contract value to financially justify making that type of move in that scenario given the CCG deregulation.

If the American loses just 1, I'd imagine Army is in sights to step in as a football-only, resulting in a 10 MBB, 12 FB configuration.