(02-24-2018 06:15 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(02-24-2018 03:19 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(02-22-2018 10:47 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(02-22-2018 09:16 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  

(02-21-2018 01:52 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  No thank you. That is not a better solution. C-USA West would not benefit from adding the western Sun Belt programs. As a collection they would not add any extra value, nor would they collectively add any prestige to our current line-up. Arkansas State is the only Sun Belt program I would even be interested in. So, I will amend my original opinion... There is no substantially better situation among the other G5 conferences, and realigning with the Sun Belt shouldn't even be considered.

Many western SBC schools would say the same thing about North Texas. Both conference have bottom halves naturally.

They could, but that would be stupid. North Texas is the current C-USA Western Division Champ and has been to 3 bowl games since joining C-USA 5 years ago. C-USA West does not have a bottom half. 5 of our 7 teams finished the season bowl eligible. Only Rice and UTEP failed to reach 6 wins last season.

Every Sun Belt program west of the Mississippi, except Arkansas State, finished last season with a losing record. The teams in C-USA West will not consider any kind of realignment.

The realigning of the Sun Belt and CUSA is coming quicker than I think anyone may realize. Attendance is awful and there is no meaningful TV deal. Travel costs are only rising. I doubt every school makes the cut, but most of the schools will reorganize into two new conferences

Everything will hinge on what happens with the Big 12. Four of the Big 12's top programs (Texas, OK, OK St, and Kansas) could end up as new members of the Pac 12 and Big 10 as we see a new Power Four Conferences organization develop. If that happens, what's left of the Big 12 will have no choice but to raid G5 conferences for replacement members.

The AAC would probably lose Houston, Memphis, UCF, and USF. Without those four schools, the AAC would be back on par with the rest of us. The question then would be which CUSA or Sun Belt schools would be leaving to join up with those AAC powerhouse programs like SMU, Tulsa, and Tulane that were once again let behind.

Rice would be a natural fit, while USM, Marshall, UAB, and UTEP would all bolt for the AAC in a heartbeat in an attempt to regain some of their past "Glory Days". Of course, there's no guarantee that any of those programs would be offered.

I think we're likely to see some sort of geographical realignment of the AAC, CUSA, and the Sun Belt at that time.

Yes I agree. The AAC could loses its top 4-5 programs to a new Big12. If so, CUSA West could break away, take in Tulsa, SMU, and Tulane, and call it a day. A couple area Sun Belt schools could be in the running I'd guess.

If the Big12 makes it, and I hope it does, there will be more of a large-scale merger of the SBC and CUSA in my opinion. A few schools could get left out in that scenario, and maybe that's necessary.