(02-19-2017 11:05 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(02-18-2017 10:22 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  

(02-18-2017 02:24 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  Shoot, why not:

Big XII realizes their colossal mistake, renegotiates with FOX (the only network that's been willing to work with them), and adds BYU, Cincinnati, UConn, and Houston.

AAC backfills with USM, Marshall, UAB, and either ODU or Louisiana Tech.

I'm curious. You don't think the AAC would pick up Rice if they lost Houston? Or did you just forget about Rice?

If the AAC lost 3, I think they'd add Rice and stay at 10. Maybe add Wichita state as a non-football member.

I didn't forget Rice. The AAC under that scenario is losing a ton of good football as well as good basketball. Rice would replace the market, but the only things they would give the AAC is great academics and great baseball, which is neither one of the two biggest $$ sports in collegiate athletics, plus why do you think that the championship game is a bad idea? While USM & Marshall don't bring great markets or great academics, they do bring in great football. UAB brings in a good market, great academics , and has replace some of the basketball lost. ODU brings another good market to the table, is a very well known basketball name, and has good academics- a significant upgrade over Rice which really just has a slightly bigger market and baseball better than ODU. I think that baseball is one of the AAC's last concerns.

Edit: I just realized I replaced three teams with four, so I can see adding Rice to get to 14. Louisiana Tech probably wouldn't get in under that scenario unless their basketball significantly improved.

I did forget C-USA though.

Arkansas State and Georgia Southern probably.

I don't think a championship game is a bad idea. And if the ACC goes back to 12, I think the candidates would come from UAB, Marshall and USM since Army has made it clear they're not joining a conference and Air Force is happy with the MWC.

I think they stay at 10 because of the markets and academics. UAB has both but Marshall and USM have neither and we'll have to see how well UAB football rebounds from ending football briefly. If ESPN, or whoever has the AAC rights then, doesn't reduce the payout for lost teams then the ACC would stay at 9 and wait until the next contract to expand.

You're right that the AAC would lose good football brands and USM and Marshall bring good football brands but I don't think academically they fit with the remaining AAC schools. Rice has the biggest market and quality academics.

A ten team AAC would look like:
-----
ECU
Navy - football only
Memphis
Rice
SMU
Temple
Tulane
Tulsa
UCF
USF

They'd still have decent football in ECU, Navy, Memphis has been good recently, SMU with Chad Morris I believe will be good some day, Temple has been good recently, UCF won a BCS bowl and USF won 11 games last year. They could play double round robin in basketball with 9 or with 10 if they added Wichita state.

That being said, I certainly see the merits of adding quality football schools and going back to 12 since you pointed out the advantages. The AAC could go either way. Stay at 10 or expand out to 12.

If CUSA lost 3, I think they'd only expand to 12 teams since the CFP playoff money per conference is capped at 12 schools. I think they'd add Georgia State for the Atlanta market. Georgia Southern has better football but I think the Atlanta market trumps that.