(01-15-2021 10:29 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(01-15-2021 02:18 PM)Zonadub Wrote:  Congratulations to the WAC on your pending growth spurt. Have followed this thread since the rumors broke about SUU leaving the Big Sky. It’s great to see the WAC rise from the ashes and become a football conference again. Such a great history and now a great future.

The thread has voiced a concern that the Texas 4 will only be members of the WAC until they get an FBS invite. I would like to float an idea of a different vein...

With the addition of the Texas 4 and SUU, the WAC should find itself among the stronger FCS conferences in a very short time, if not immediately.

The thing that has not been discussed much on this thread is the impending breakaway by the P5, which will more than likely result in the G5 and the stronger FCS conferences forming a new 2nd tier. There is speculation that it may come very soon.

When that happens, the Texas 4 will not have to leave to become the equivalent of the G5 of FBS, the new WAC will be one of those conferences. The WAC will be on the same level as the MW, CUSA, SunBelt, and a few FCS conferences like the MVFC, Big Sky and Colonial. This might be why the Texas 4 are making the move now. Plus, NMSU would then be able to join their WAC partners in the WAC football conference. The Southland may not be included in the ‘new’ second tier.

Anyway, just wanted to throw this idea out and see if it gains any traction. Congrats WAC on your bright future.

There is nothing impending about a P5 breakaway. The current playoff contract runs through 2025, another five seasons. The P5 could breakaway after that, but what that looks like is anybody’s guess. There are several G5 schools that would not want to be part of a merger with the stronger FCS schools. They want access to the money that the P5 schools would be pulling in and they would want access to an expanded playoff system and bowl games against power conference schools.

Mostly agree. I’m not a lawyer, but an independent Autonomy 5 with Notre Dame is starting to look dangerously similar to a trust. Most likely outcome is an expanded playoff with the 5+1+2 model come 2025. If the WAC could become a FBS conference before/during negotiations, maybe they could get a cut of the pot with the other G5 conferences.