Just playing around, I thought it would be fun to think of what kind of conference the AAC would be if there was a 16 team configuration. If there was enough television revenue and if there were an opportunity to expand to that number by addition, who would be included if the membership made sense and agreed to it. I know this is ridiculous to throw out there right now, but it certainly is fun after all the mess we've gone through.

Here is my model

East
Navy
UCONN
Temple
Cincy
ECU
Memphis
Army
Marshall

South
Tulane
La Tech
So Miss
Houston
SMU
UCF
Tulsa
USF
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And I'll throw in a MWC model

West
Hawaii
San Jose St
Fresno St
San Diego St
Nevada
UNLV
Boise St
Utah St


East
BYU
Air Force
Wyoming
Colorado St
New Mexico
UTEP
UTSA
North Texas or New Mexico St or Rice

The only way that would ever work is if there was quite a bit more money invloved to offset the cost of the new members. Further - the only member that would be worth much would be Army just because of their national following. I would much rather have Air Force and Army in our league than Marshall or La Tech.

Sans BYU and Air Force the East side of your MWC looks awful! It would suck to be in that division.

Yes its hard to come up with a model that keeps two leagues strong enough with the current potential to break the cartel. But I was just doodling in the off season to keep my mind on college sports.

I do think its possible to come up with 16 teams not in the cartel that would be about as strong as a cartel comference, but it wouldn't be geographically feasable. The thing that kept Boise St and SDSU out of the BE was the geography. Its possible to have a league, but one that would run from California to Connecticutt or NY. There'd have to be seperation points in geography with a west , a mountain, a central and an east. What would have to happen would be an elimination of several currently worthy schools. I don't like any true DI schools being left out at this time, but I think CFB is trying as hard as possible to do that wo it ending up in the SCOTUS.

I feel ya on the offseason boredom. I wouldn't mind the AAC bringing in Air Force and Army if they could, but I think those are the only 2 teams that would bring any more money to the league.

I do feel bad for USM though... It seems as if they're stuck where they are for good or at least until a schools leaves the AAC.