Our president here at Ga Southern is the President of the Sun Belt CEOs and I am told he has said we are going to add only 1 school. Supposedly we want the new school to join as JMU exits so it is a constant 14 team league. The conference is about to meet and come to a consensus on who is the #1 target and who are the alternatives if we can t get the first target.

Just my opinion but I have to believe that target will be in the east

I also hear that the exit fee increase will be discussed and the thought is to raise it at least to what CUSA has—- 10 million

(10-14-2026 01:14 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  Our president here at Ga Southern is the President of the Sun Belt CEOs and I am told he has said we are going to add only 1 school. Supposedly we want the new school to join as JMU exits so it is a constant 14 team league. The conference is about to meet and come to a consensus on who is the #1 target and who are the alternatives if we can t get the first target.

Just my opinion but I have to believe that target will be in the east

I also hear that the exit fee increase will be discussed and the thought is to raise it at least to what CUSA has—- 10 million

If true, both are the correct moves IMHO.

It makes sense. I think 14 us the perfect number with the SBC's regional structure. Six division games and two cross-division games works well.

10 million in exit fees is reasonable to align with some other conferences. Anything more than that would just seem to be punitive and I would not want anyone in the SBC that does not want to be here nor would I want to make any move more difficult for a school having the desire to leave. Perhaps the one school add indicates there are no other known imminent departures.

Expanding by 1 to get back to 14 is realistic as is a $10M exit fee. App St. or anyone else should be able to pay that if they decide they want out later down the road. I feel if we add 1 and it's Ohio that'll keep Marshall happy too so that's a plus.

It's clear that the Sun Belt isn't one big happy family like we sometimes want to believe and if App St. or anyone else can find $30M+ to join the American then good luck to them but it would be short-sighted to run out West for a half-share of the PAC-12 media money to just keep up appearances of "not being left behind"

JMU isn't joining the AAC to be a mid-tier team either. They'll spend to be a top team by the end of their first season. Heck I think JMU would dog-walk most of the AAC today if they played. Not sure others here have the money to do that like them.

Increasing the exit fee to $10M seems reasonable. Whoever suggested raising it to $25M needs to be terminated from their position, as it likely played a role in JMU leaving the conference.

When is the vote expected? Will they vote on the exit fee increase and the invitation at the same time?

Are there any valid rumors regarding additonal exits?

I know that they are an unpopluar pick but Liberty does have money to invest. They won't get the votes (or so I would not think) but I'd bet they have already reached out.

Aside from them:

-Ohio
-WKU
-MTSU
-Kennesaw State
-Toledo (they're a stretch but would be a decent fit)

Based on what I've read, Miami (OH) would be an awful fit.

Best of luck going forward.

(10-14-2026 03:43 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  Increasing the exit fee to $10M seems reasonable. Whoever suggested raising it to $25M needs to be terminated from their position, as it likely played a role in JMU leaving the conference.

When is the vote expected? Will they vote on the exit fee increase and the invitation at the same time?

Are there any valid rumors regarding additonal exits?

I know that they are an unpopluar pick but Liberty does have money to invest. They won't get the votes (or so I would not think) but I'd bet they have already reached out.

Aside from them:

-Ohio
-WKU
-MTSU
-Kennesaw State
-Toledo (they're a stretch but would be a decent fit)

Based on what I've read, Miami (OH) would be an awful fit.

Best of luck going forward.

This week. Which led to all the scrambling.

(10-14-2026 03:49 PM)TealNation Wrote:  

(10-14-2026 03:43 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  Increasing the exit fee to $10M seems reasonable. Whoever suggested raising it to $25M needs to be terminated from their position, as it likely played a role in JMU leaving the conference.

When is the vote expected? Will they vote on the exit fee increase and the invitation at the same time?

Are there any valid rumors regarding additonal exits?

I know that they are an unpopluar pick but Liberty does have money to invest. They won't get the votes (or so I would not think) but I'd bet they have already reached out.

Aside from them:

-Ohio
-WKU
-MTSU
-Kennesaw State
-Toledo (they're a stretch but would be a decent fit)

Based on what I've read, Miami (OH) would be an awful fit.

Best of luck going forward.

This week. Which led to all the scrambling.

If if spooked them that badly, they clearly had pretty immediate plans to peace out ASAP (duh, right?). No harm done if it just accelerated what was going to happen anyway.

There are only two teams I care to add if they come east. First would be Delaware, and second would be WKU. Delaware has a ton of potential and expands our recruiting footprint and maybe even our media footprint. They also have good academics and when they are good a pretty nice fanbase. They arent much different from JMU and would be a good replacement. WKU is basically bringing back an old friend who you know fits well in the group. A safe choice who wouldnt leave (again). I really hope its Delaware being added.

(10-14-2026 04:14 PM)monarx Wrote:  There are only two teams I care to add if they come east. First would be Delaware, and second would be WKU. Delaware has a ton of potential and expands our recruiting footprint and maybe even our media footprint. They also have good academics and when they are good a pretty nice fanbase. They arent much different from JMU and would be a good replacement. WKU is basically bringing back an old friend who you know fits well in the group. A safe choice who wouldnt leave (again). I really hope its Delaware being added.

I feel like everything you just said about Delaware could also be applied to Ohio

(10-14-2026 03:38 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  Expanding by 1 to get back to 14 is realistic as is a $10M exit fee. App St. or anyone else should be able to pay that if they decide they want out later down the road. I feel if we add 1 and it's Ohio that'll keep Marshall happy too so that's a plus.

It's clear that the Sun Belt isn't one big happy family like we sometimes want to believe and if App St. or anyone else can find $30M+ to join the American then good luck to them but it would be short-sighted to run out West for a half-share of the PAC-12 media money to just keep up appearances of "not being left behind"

JMU isn't joining the AAC to be a mid-tier team either. They'll spend to be a top team by the end of their first season. Heck I think JMU would dog-walk most of the AAC today if they played. Not sure others here have the money to do that like them.

I do wonder how they would handle the triple option from Army and Navy

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

(10-14-2026 04:20 PM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  

(10-14-2026 04:14 PM)monarx Wrote:  There are only two teams I care to add if they come east. First would be Delaware, and second would be WKU. Delaware has a ton of potential and expands our recruiting footprint and maybe even our media footprint. They also have good academics and when they are good a pretty nice fanbase. They arent much different from JMU and would be a good replacement. WKU is basically bringing back an old friend who you know fits well in the group. A safe choice who wouldnt leave (again). I really hope its Delaware being added.

I feel like everything you just said about Delaware could also be applied to Ohio

Ohio also appears to have better facilities. I also don't buy the "they arent much different from JMU". Delaware more resembles a typical MAC school with a large endowment, just without the FBS maturity. Ohio seems more like an add that you know what you're going to get.

I just want to point out that New Mexico State has not been mentioned and should not be mentioned. Carry on.

Pay attention to the MAC this cycle. Their exit fees are less than CUSA, and there's a ton of rumors right now that Miami is going to be the 16th AAC Member, and its pretty well known that Toledo has tried to get out. It might be easier to grab an Ohio MAC school than it is to grab a CUSA school.

I think there is a very real world where the SBC and CUSA might start poaching off the MAC.

(10-14-2026 04:43 PM)Eagleholic Wrote:  I just want to point out that New Mexico State has not been mentioned and should not be mentioned. Carry on.

They are trying to get into the MWC if rumors are to be believed.

(10-14-2026 05:25 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-14-2026 04:43 PM)Eagleholic Wrote:  I just want to point out that New Mexico State has not been mentioned and should not be mentioned. Carry on.

They are trying to get into the MWC if rumors are to be believed.

I hope they do get the MWC. NMSU has been in purgatory long enough.

(10-14-2026 05:24 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Pay attention to the MAC this cycle. Their exit fees are less than CUSA, and there's a ton of rumors right now that Miami is going to be the 16th AAC Member, and its pretty well known that Toledo has tried to get out. It might be easier to grab an Ohio MAC school than it is to grab a CUSA school.

I think there is a very real world where the SBC and CUSA might start poaching off the MAC.

Golly that would be wild.

I doubt we’d go over 1 (we all know Ohio) but who CUSA target? Buffalo (and/or UMass for Deleware, maaaayyyybe Western Michigan?)

(10-14-2026 05:24 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Pay attention to the MAC this cycle. Their exit fees are less than CUSA, and there's a ton of rumors right now that Miami is going to be the 16th AAC Member, and its pretty well known that Toledo has tried to get out. It might be easier to grab an Ohio MAC school than it is to grab a CUSA school.

I think there is a very real world where the SBC and CUSA might start poaching off the MAC.

That is how I'm reading things as well. CUSA seems to be in much better position.

Also, despite the App fan on Twitter who has been dropping floods of hints they are 50/50 to join the PAC 12. I think the odds of that happening anytime soon are low. App has certainly looked at its options, and boosters would love to leave, but everything I understand is that App wants to pocket JMU's exit fees and see what the SBC does before it heads for the hills

Of course, we could be also talking about their sister school "App State-Happy Valley" if the Coastal Fan's viral twitter graphic is to be believed.

East Carolina and Charlotte are candidates, according to Brett McMurphy.

I did not read it myself (it's behind an On3 paywall), but someone was showing it on YouTube.

For those who have access to On3: https://www.on3.com/teams/miami-hurrican...re-coming/