While it's no guarantee, if Memphis, Tulane, and possibly others (UTSA and/or USF) left the AAC for the PAC or P4, I'm assuming ESPN would pull off the same move as before and say get to 16 to keep the contract whole (meaning some or all new additions coming in at partial shares, maybe this won't be the case) so I wanted to compile a list of schools from each of the remaining conferences that would be likely and possible candidates. Maybe ESPN keeps some conferences off limits, but I don't know if that's a guarantee this time (at least with the MAC with their contract coming up soon, CUSA's deal is up shortly after, and threats of further consolidation from the top down). I'll list the candidates, and it can be discussed.

CUSA
FIU
Middle Tennessee
Delaware?
Liberty?

MAC
Buffalo?
Massachusetts?
Miami (OH)?
Northern Illinois?
Toledo?

MWC
Air Force
New Mexico?

SBC
Georgia St.
James Madison
Old Dominion
Texas St.
Louisiana?

Toledo
Arkansas State
Air Force
New Mexico (as a travel partner for Air Force)
Liberty
Those are the 4 best options as far as actual competition goes.
Now, as far as TV eyeballs goes... different story.

And why this is considered "Off Topic" I have no idea. This need will be pending soon, I'm afraid...
Better start thinking about it now.

I think you do everything you can to get USAF and then add a couple basketball only schools.

(01-17-2025 11:26 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  I think you do everything you can to get USAF and then add a couple basketball only schools.

Gross....

(01-16-2025 02:20 PM)geosnooker2000 Wrote:  And why this is considered "Off Topic" I have no idea. This need will be pending soon, I'm afraid...
Better start thinking about it now.

Rather than put it in the main AAC Forum just to get moved/removed, I put it here to begin with to follow the rules because this was speculation, nothing official warranting this thread specifically.

(01-23-2025 08:18 PM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  

(01-16-2025 02:20 PM)geosnooker2000 Wrote:  And why this is considered "Off Topic" I have no idea. This need will be pending soon, I'm afraid...
Better start thinking about it now.

Rather than put it in the main AAC Forum just to get moved/removed, I put it here to begin with to follow the rules because this was speculation, nothing official warranting this thread specifically.

Pro: putting it here will keep it at the top of the list.
Con: putting here, no one will see it.

NDSU duh

I think Liberty and JMU should be near the top of the list.

(12-15-2024 08:12 AM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  While it's no guarantee, if Memphis, Tulane, and possibly others (UTSA and/or USF) left the AAC for the PAC or P4, I'm assuming ESPN would pull off the same move as before and say get to 16 to keep the contract whole (meaning some or all new additions coming in at partial shares, maybe this won't be the case) so I wanted to compile a list of schools from each of the remaining conferences that would be likely and possible candidates. Maybe ESPN keeps some conferences off limits, but I don't know if that's a guarantee this time (at least with the MAC with their contract coming up soon, CUSA's deal is up shortly after, and threats of further consolidation from the top down). I'll list the candidates, and it can be discussed.

CUSA
FIU
Middle Tennessee
Delaware?
Liberty?

MAC
Buffalo?
Massachusetts?
Miami (OH)?
Northern Illinois?
Toledo?

MWC
Air Force
New Mexico?

SBC
Georgia St.
James Madison
Old Dominion
Texas St.
Louisiana?

Top 3 should be Liberty, JMU, and Delaware. And Air Force. Athletic budgets matter I believe and so does winning.

clt says buffalo checks a lot of boxes

USAF or no one.

(06-29-2025 05:57 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  clt says buffalo checks a lot of boxes

(06-30-2025 01:21 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  USAF or no one.

These two are both pretty high on my list.


But one mustn’t forget that Buffalo and the Falcons are a combined 0-6 in Super Bowls.

And we just got rid of Houston and Cincinnati (combined 0-3) so let’s keep that positive momentum going.

(07-06-2025 03:22 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(06-29-2025 05:57 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  clt says buffalo checks a lot of boxes

(06-30-2025 01:21 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  USAF or no one.

These two are both pretty high on my list.


But one mustn’t forget that Buffalo and the Falcons are a combined 0-6 in Super Bowls.

And we just got rid of Houston and Cincinnati (combined 0-3) so let’s keep that positive momentum going.

clt says having josh allen's wife attend games at Rice stadium would be pretty good.

If the conference wants to improve competitively, we should consider App State and JMU. They are the two most valuable athletic programs in Sunbelt and both have good-sized fanbases.

Air Force would be a home-run addition.

If they could be swayed to join, VCU and Dayton would be fantastic additions as well. St. Louis should also be considered although I'm not as high on them as I once was.

(07-11-2025 08:47 AM)Ned Low Wrote:  If the conference wants to improve competitively, we should consider App State and JMU. They are the two most valuable athletic programs in Sunbelt and both have good-sized fanbases.

Air Force would be a home-run addition.

If they could be swayed to join, VCU and Dayton would be fantastic additions as well. St. Louis should also be considered although I'm not as high on them as I once was.

App State is good at football but not good at a lot of other sports. JMU is good at sports and has a good athletic budget, though a small market. Liberty is good at all sports and has a better than average market and the budget. App St might be better as football only.

(07-11-2025 08:47 AM)Ned Low Wrote:  If the conference wants to improve competitively, we should consider App State and JMU. They are the two most valuable athletic programs in Sunbelt and both have good-sized fanbases.

Air Force would be a home-run addition.

If they could be swayed to join, VCU and Dayton would be fantastic additions as well. St. Louis should also be considered although I'm not as high on them as I once was.

clt says they lack many desirables for The American

R1
large metro
large and/or growing enrollment
major airport