(02-11-2017 08:18 AM)TexanMark Wrote: I see a fallout within 10 years (TV Money is driving this)...The P5 could turn into the P4 but more likely I see about 80 schools competing in the largest FB classification (4-6 leagues) and another 70-120 schools hanging in there in a lower FB (or no FB in the Big East's case) division but will compete for Division 1 titles in all other sports (besides FB) to include basketball. I could see the CAA/MVC, etc...raise their profile in FB to compete with the MAC/SunBelt/CUSA type programs in that subdivision. March Madness is a cash cow and will continued to get milked. The smart folks deciding things realize they can maintain the underdog matchups to keep up to 200 schools eligible. The leftovers downgrade with a twist talked above below.
I hate to say it but those programs in the CAA/MVC FB that fans on here think have a right to the FBS as much as any MAC school are not going to see a shakeup in their favor.
There are DII conferences with D1 basketball facilities stuck at the DII. That is just the way it is.
Where we are at with 350 Division 1 teams a split does seem to make some sense. The way its going to happen is all D1 conferences in the new D1 will be required to have FBS football.
West Coast, Big East, Missouri Valley and Atlantic 10 will have to bulk up as hybrids, pulling teams in from the MWC, AAC, MAC and CUSA.
For the Big East it would likely mean UConn, Temple, UC, Memphis, Houston, SMU, USF, UCF, Navy, Buffalo joining the conference. The AAC would be out of business most likely.
For the West Coast it would be BYU who is already there plus SDSU, UNLV, Hawaii, Boise, Air Force, Colorado State, New Mexico. The MWC hangs in with NMSU, UTEP and Montana, Montana State, Idaho, North Dakota St upgrading for 10 teams total.
Missouri Valley adds NIU, Ball St, WMU, CMU, Toledo, Miami, Kent State and Ohio to grow to 18 in hoops.
Atlantic 10 has UMass already. They add Army, Akron, Marshall, ODU, Charlotte, App State, Georgia State, FIU.
CUSA down to 9 adds Tulsa, Tulane, Texas State to get back to 12.
SBC down to 7 in FB adds JMU, EMU and Bowling Green with UMKC joining for basketball.
The result is a 12 conference FBS Division 1.
Atlantic 10 (20)
Big East (20)
West Coast (18)
Missouri Valley (18)
ACC (15)
SEC (14)
B1G (14)
CUSA (12)
SBC (12)
PAC (12)
B12 (10)
MWC (10)
That's 175 Division 1 teams, 12 conferences and pretty much all you need. Take the NCAA tournament back to 64 and with the NIT at 32 there is going to be more room for everybody.
MWC and SBC will be the "starter" conferences with the WCC, MVC and A10 being more desirable.
BE will be an outright power conference again with a return of the FB schools.