(10-05-2021 12:27 AM)All4One Wrote:  

(10-04-2021 03:13 PM)ARSTATEFAN1986 Wrote:  

(10-04-2021 02:49 PM)ARSTATEFAN1986 Wrote:  The AAC should consider Buffalo and UMASS to help Temple out, then consider UAB, and Liberty which would also be good additions. If AAC also loses SMU, Memphis and USF as has been rumored, they could consider JMU, Louisiana Tech, and Charlotte. AAC could lose Tulsa and Wichita State to MWC as they would now be the outliers. If that happens, AAC should add ODU.

NE/Mid-Atlantic: UMASS, Buffalo, Temple, JMU, Liberty and ODU.

Southeast: East Carolina, Charlotte, UAB, Tulane, Navy, and Louisiana Tech

Besides losing Boise State to the Big 12, the MWC could loose San Diego State and Nevada to PAC 12, leaving the MWC needing to add schools. Top Options to target would be Tulsa, UTSA, Rice and Wichita State and perhaps Gonzaga and St. Mary's.

After Southern Miss and Marshall move over to the Belt, that would leave hapless CUSA needing to add tems to join, FAU/FIU, MT/WKU NT/UTEP. They could add Jacksonville State, EKU, Lamar, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and NMSU to remain as part of G5.

Southern Miss may join the Sun Belt for geographical reasons only, but there's no indication that Marshall will regardless if Keith Gill visits their campus 100 times.

It's been the dream of Sun Belt fans to see the death of Conference USA after 5 schools left for it when Karl Benson became league commissioner--same guy who tried to kill the Sun Belt before the 2005 season started when he was commissioner of the WAC. North Texas and Middle Tennessee were the only two schools that sponsored Sun Belt football in 2004 that left for CUSA in 2012/2013. North Texas turned down the WAC and Middle Tennessee stuck it out in the Sun Belt rather than going to the MAC during the off-season. Sun Belt probably could've gotten a waiver for 2005 with Arkansas State, ULM, UL-Lafayette adding Troy, Florida International and Florida Atlantic in football. FAU and FIU were already in the league in other sports, but without 8 full members the league would've been in jeopardy.

I believe that CUSA will be affected by realignment and at least two school will choose the stronger Sun Belt Conference. When those five teams left the belt for what they thought were greener pastures never materialized and they have not had a lot of success. No Sun Belt team will choose to go to CUSA as it is now seen as the weaker league and the Belt has leaped both the MAC and CUSA. Nolrth Texas was one of four or five schools that the WAC targeted and were turned down. With six full members CUSA will now be in jeopardy that is why they will work fast on the FCS call ups and NMSU.