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With regard to the C-USA (2005-2012) vs. AAC (2013-2019) debate, here are the data, with respect to the number of Final AP Top 25 teams per season:

C-USA Football


1996 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
1997 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (USM)
1998 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Tulane)
1999 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (USM)
2000 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Louisville, USM)
2001 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Louisville)
2002 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0 (TCU)
2003 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0 (TCU)
2004 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0 (Louisville)
2005 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2006 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2007 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2008 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2009 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2010 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (UCF, Tulsa)
2011 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (USM, Houston)
2012 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0

Average: 0.5 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season (2005-2012).

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AAC Football:

2013 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (UCF, Louisville)
2014 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Memphis)
2015 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Houston, Navy)
2016 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (USF)
2017 Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (UCF, USF, Memphis)
2018 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (USF, Cincinnati)
2019 Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Cincinnati, UCF, Memphis, Navy)

Average: 2.15 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season.

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C-USA Basketball


1996 Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Cincinnati, Memphis, Louisville, Marquette)
1997 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincinnati, Louisville)
1998 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Cincinnati)
1999 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincinnati, Charlotte)
2000 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Cincinnati)
2001 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2002 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincinnati, Marquette)
2003 Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Marquette, Louisville, Memphis)
2004 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincinnati, Memphis)
2005 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Louisville, Cincinnati)
2006 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Memphis, UAB)
2007 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Memphis)
2008 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Memphis)
2009 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Memphis)
2010 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2011 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2012 Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2013 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Memphis)
Average: 0.88 Final AP Top 25 basketball teams per season (2005-2012).

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AAC Basketball:

2014 Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Louisville, Connecticut, Memphis)
2015 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (SMU)
2016 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (SMU)
2017 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (SMU, Cincinnati)
2018 Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Cincinnati, WSU, Houston)
2019 Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Houston, Cincinnati)
2020 Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Houston)

Average: 1.86 Final AP Top 25 basketball teams per season.