RE: What may happen....
New CUSA....Either one league or two associated leagues. Almost completely wraps up the remaining Southern FBS which is the primary football region. Divides the region only three ways between SEC/CUSA/ACC with a few scattered islands of Big East. If you want Southern football there will really be only three options for it. If SEC and ACC move more toward a Conference Network then you have an even better negotiating position for the region. Very much like the alliance except it actually makes geographic sense (with the reduced travel costs inherent in that).
Middle Tennessee - keeps Troy, WKU rivalries
Marshall - keeps ECU, gets its Florida connection, gets MTSU and WKU fairly close
Western Kentucky - keeps the MTSU rivalry, WKU and Charlotte in bball would be fun
Charlotte - gets to move up
Florida International - keeps FAU rivalry, gets a coastal connection with Charlotte and ECU
Florida Atlantic - same as above
ECU - gets a game a year in Florida, a potential in-state rival
Troy - keeps USA rivalry, gets UAB rivalry
South Alabama - Keeps Troy rivalry gets UAB rivalry
UAB - gets two in-state rivals and lower travel costs
Southern Miss - central to the conference, decent travel, potential rivalries
Arkansas State - additional interest statewide with USM, Tulsa, LaTech, Tulane, Rice
Louisiana Tech - gets their girlfriend USM, plus in-state rivals and no ULM
Louisiana - in state rivals and no ULM
Tulsa - adds some Texas schools which they need, gets stAte which is a rare decent road trip for them
Tulane - in-state rivals
Rice - gets games in Dallas back, other in-state games
North Texas - meaningful in-state games plus a nice Tulsa trip
Two of UTEP, UTSA, Texas State - same as some of above
Such a lineup might have some interest for Liberty, GoDaddy, Independence, New Orleans, and other regional bowls. Some of which the Big East might encroach on.
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