(04-12-2023 09:50 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  

(04-12-2023 09:22 AM)JMUDuke4Ever Wrote:  

(04-11-2023 10:21 PM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  MWC definitely the best G5? Not at all. This may have just been a down year, but still... They were closer to MAC and new CUSA this past year than they were to SBC and new AAC.

The new AAC schools should get a bit of a boost from playing AAC schools instead of CUSA schools, but the old AAC schools might take a hit from playing the new AAC schools instead of Cincy, UCF, and Houston so hard to know which way that impact will go overall.

I don't really see anyone leaving the AAC, MWC, or SBC for another G5 quite yet unless maybe it's just due to a better geographic fit like TXST to the AAC if offered. There's no clear best, but my money would be on SBC or AAC coming out on top.

It was a down year for football in the MWC. But cmon now, you can't say they aren't even close when they just had a team in the finals of the men's basketball tournament. A conference sponsors roughly 15-20 sports, not 1. Yes football is the driver but being the 2nd or 3rd best G5 in a down year isn't like saying they are the sinking ship dumpster fire that is CUSA.

Yeah I'm not saying they aren't close, I'm saying it's not close to being able to say they're "definitely the best G5". I also assumed you were talking football since that's the sport where the term G5 is used. I do believe it was a down year and they'll typically be right with the AAC/SBC rather than down near CUSA/MAC like 2022 was. But there's no way I'd say the MWC, or anyone for that matter, is definitely the best G5.

Based on last year, MWC was clear 3rd place in Football, and not really that close to being in contention for the NY6/CFP slot. Right now, that looks like a 2 conference race, with AAC having the edge IF Tulane repeats a strong performance. We really need a SBC team (USA or USM) to knock them off. Without a strong Tulane, SBC has the edge in football.

Of course, further conference movements could change this, but none of the talked about MWC changes would help them. Departure of San Diego St to PAC seems imminent, with their AD already dropping hints. There's been rumors around Boise and Fresno trying to depart, if they can.

For MWC additions, the Montanas and Dakotas seem to be out of the running, at least based on rumors/leaks. The texas schools or other Big Sky adds won't boost them to top G5 status. SBC is a great position to take the lead just in time for the expanded CFP.