(05-30-2020 01:35 AM)spenser Wrote:  

(05-30-2020 12:27 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(05-30-2020 12:13 AM)jedclampett Wrote:  Question:

Can anybody explain why C-USA is viewed as being particularly likely to be affected by realignment by 2026, even moreso than the Big 12 and AAC?

There are those who believe in the fabled CUSA/Sun Belt reorg, so that might be a source of some voters who'd choose CUSA and not necessarily the Big 12 or AAC. You might say then why isn't the Sun Belt vote higher? A minor realignment in which the Big 12 loses only a few members could mean that the trickle-down effect would pass through the AAC but stop at CUSA, which has members to spare, before reaching the Sun Belt. And then there are those who may think the only realignment will be due to the AAC replacing UConn, and the likeliest replacements are in CUSA.

The most likely if AAC doesn't get a rule change for Divisionless and decides not to play uneven Divisions( 6&5). UAB is a easy fillin 12th team. Would be a 2nd level team 6-10th place in FB and at large range for Basketball. Both would be upgrades from what UConn was for the AAC.

I dont see how you get there. UAB would be no better than any other MAC./SB/CUSA G5 option---perhaps worse than many. Given the long term track record, UAB is actually a pretty risky choice. One thing worth noting when it comes to UAB as the best AAC option---The only AAC team that has played or bothered to schedule UAB since the AAC began play in 2013 is Tulane....That was a two game home and home series that finishes in 2021. No other AAC has scheduled UAB. It also instructive to note that Tulane has scheduled another Alabama G5 (S Alabama) twice as often as UAB during that same period.

Its not like UAB would be the worst option on earth---but I also dont see much reason to believe UAB is viewed by the AAC as the top pick available. I honestly think the rule change is going to pass and the AAC will be stuck at 11 for a while.