The Dallas News reports:

https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college...orth-price

So the Sun Belt could get an 11th program (12 if UALR starts one). Arlington has an existing stadium. It is Texas, so football seems inevitable. But major competition there.

There is something different about UTA's situation than say Charlotte.

UTA was able to secure membership in a G5 conference without starting football. Charlotte had to restart football to get into CUSA.

From what I've seen if you can't get into a P5 conference the next best way to secure your athletic future is getting into a G5 one. G5 will guarantee a linear TV deal and likely be part of any future D1 split.

If UTA does indeed move up it increases the chances of a Texas based G5 conference forming.

UTEP
UTSA
Texas St
UNT
UTA
Rice
Louisiana
La Tech

That gives you 8 CUSA/SBC programs between the two states. Throw in NMSU and AState and it gives you 10.

West: NMSU, UTEP, UTSA, TxST, UTA
East: UNT, Rice, Louisiana, LaTech, AState

What also would help a new SWC get off the ground is the MAC and MWC are geographically challenged for bowls and would be willing to do business with it.

(08-18-2018 09:47 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  If UTA does indeed move up it increases the chances of a Texas based G5 conference forming.

UTEP
UTSA
Texas St
UNT
UTA
Rice
Louisiana
La Tech

That gives you 8 CUSA/SBC programs between the two states. Throw in NMSU and AState and it gives you 10.

West: NMSU, UTEP, UTSA, TxST, UTA
East: UNT, Rice, Louisiana, LaTech, AState

Don't forget UTRGV. You could start out with 9 schools (adding NMSU), have 8 conference games and hold a CCG. I don't know if ULL would leave the Sunbelt.

NMSU
UTEP
UNT
UTA
Tex St
UTSA
UTRGV
Rice
La Tech.

If ULL could be convinced they could be #10.
Split via:
NMSU, UTEP, Tex St, UTSA, UTRGV
UTA, UNT, Rice, LA Tech, ULL

UTA starting football could be just what NMSU needs to get a football only invite to the Sunbelt because they'll need a 12th.

(08-18-2018 10:52 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  UTA starting football could be just what NMSU needs to get a football only invite to the Sunbelt because they'll need a 12th.

Would make sense

I'm on the fence about this. Would rather see Wichita St join with UTA. But I also don't think the schools want to divide the CFB money anymore, and UTA and UALR does not have a equal seat at the table.

(08-18-2018 09:47 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  If UTA does indeed move up it increases the chances of a Texas based G5 conference forming.

UTEP
UTSA
Texas St
UNT
UTA
Rice
Louisiana
La Tech

That gives you 8 CUSA/SBC programs between the two states. Throw in NMSU and AState and it gives you 10.

West: NMSU, UTEP, UTSA, TxST, UTA
East: UNT, Rice, Louisiana, LaTech, AState

That would be Awesome, If only we could get SMU and UH to buy in. Then it could just be the 8 Texas teams and 2 LA schools.

(08-18-2018 11:10 AM)Gamecock Wrote:  

(08-18-2018 10:52 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  UTA starting football could be just what NMSU needs to get a football only invite to the Sunbelt because they'll need a 12th.

Would make sense

Have to wonder if the Sunbelt would allow them to be FBS? It there a stipulation where UALR or UTA added football that they would be FBS?

If so, this could affect UALR to jump in regarding of the initial cost setting up the SB with.
West: Tx St, UTA, ULL, ULM, Troy, USA
East: ULR, ASU, App St, CCU, Ga So, GA ST.

IF UALR can't get football of the ground but UTA can, then another football only invite to NMSU would be good.

West: NMSU, UTA, Texas St, ULM, ULL, Ark St.
East: Troy, USA, Ga So, Ga St, App St, CCU.

(08-18-2018 11:48 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(08-18-2018 11:10 AM)Gamecock Wrote:  

(08-18-2018 10:52 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  UTA starting football could be just what NMSU needs to get a football only invite to the Sunbelt because they'll need a 12th.

Would make sense

Have to wonder if the Sunbelt would allow them to be FBS? It there a stipulation where UALR or UTA added football that they would be FBS?

If so, this could affect UALR to jump in regarding of the initial cost setting up the SB with.
West: Tx St, UTA, ULL, ULM, Troy, USA
East: ULR, ASU, App St, CCU, Ga So, GA ST.

IF UALR can't get football of the ground but UTA can, then another football only invite to NMSU would be good.

West: NMSU, UTA, Texas St, ULM, ULL, Ark St.
East: Troy, USA, Ga So, Ga St, App St, CCU.

If a non-football Sun Belt member (UTA or Little Rock) adds football, they have a guaranteed FBS spot in the Sun Belt should they want it and accept it.

Big mistake. UTA is a commuter school surrounded by three FBS schools that struggle with fan support. I would say if UTA was in Amarillo, San Angelo, Wichita Falls, Texarkana or Midland it might have a chance of developing a fan base but not in DFW. the area is already saturated with TCU, SMU, UNT and Big XII/SEC schools.

(08-18-2018 11:48 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(08-18-2018 11:10 AM)Gamecock Wrote:  

(08-18-2018 10:52 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  UTA starting football could be just what NMSU needs to get a football only invite to the Sunbelt because they'll need a 12th.

Would make sense

Have to wonder if the Sunbelt would allow them to be FBS? It there a stipulation where UALR or UTA added football that they would be FBS?

If so, this could affect UALR to jump in regarding of the initial cost setting up the SB with.
West: Tx St, UTA, ULL, ULM, Troy, USA
East: ULR, ASU, App St, CCU, Ga So, GA ST.

IF UALR can't get football of the ground but UTA can, then another football only invite to NMSU would be good.

West: NMSU, UTA, Texas St, ULM, ULL, Ark St.
East: Troy, USA, Ga So, Ga St, App St, CCU.

That would work out quite nicely for NMSU if that were to happen

(08-18-2018 12:44 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Big mistake. UTA is a commuter school surrounded by three FBS schools that struggle with fan support. I would say if UTA was in Amarillo, San Angelo, Wichita Falls, Texarkana or Midland it might have a chance of developing a fan base but not in DFW. the area is already saturated with TCU, SMU, UNT and Big XII/SEC schools.

True, however, they are a public school situated between both major cities. The small alumni/fanbase and religious affiliation hampers SMU and even TCU. UTA might grab more casual fans because it's public.

UALR isn't going to start football because they cannot afford it. Without football their student athletic fee is the same at UTSA's fee they adopted to add football.

There just isn't the dollars to do it.

Texas-Arlington on the other hand could increase their student athletic fee by $10 and raise around $8 million a year and still have an athletic fee that is $2.50 an hour less than UTSA's fee and $2.25 higher than UNT.

They'd probably need about $15 million to $25 million in facility enhancements (renovate stadium, offices, weight rooms, etc) that would be one time costs.

With a good donor or two, I think they can swing it.

(08-18-2018 11:23 AM)SENOREIDA Wrote:  I'm on the fence about this. Would rather see Wichita St join with UTA. But I also don't think the schools want to divide the CFB money anymore, and UTA and UALR does not have a equal seat at the table.

UTA or UALR would have an equal seat. Not a question of whether the others want to divide it up more or not.

OTOH, if UTA added, and a need for a 12th arose, you could invite NMSU as an affiliate with no access to CFB money.

(08-18-2018 03:42 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-18-2018 11:23 AM)SENOREIDA Wrote:  I'm on the fence about this. Would rather see Wichita St join with UTA. But I also don't think the schools want to divide the CFB money anymore, and UTA and UALR does not have a equal seat at the table.

UTA or UALR would have an equal seat. Not a question of whether the others want to divide it up more or not.

OTOH, if UTA added, and a need for a 12th arose, you could invite NMSU as an affiliate with no access to CFB money.

Then NMSU might as well stick with cobbling together an independent schedule, if they wouldn't get a cut.

New Mexico St would be a terrific full member for a 12th in football. Now, the Sun Belt doesn’t need a 12th football school if UT Arlington adds a football program due to the conference championship game rules. However, if they choose to add New Mexico St for football, then it’s be foolish to not add them as a full member. Basketball is their golden goose.

(08-18-2018 03:51 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(08-18-2018 03:42 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-18-2018 11:23 AM)SENOREIDA Wrote:  I'm on the fence about this. Would rather see Wichita St join with UTA. But I also don't think the schools want to divide the CFB money anymore, and UTA and UALR does not have a equal seat at the table.

UTA or UALR would have an equal seat. Not a question of whether the others want to divide it up more or not.

OTOH, if UTA added, and a need for a 12th arose, you could invite NMSU as an affiliate with no access to CFB money.

Then NMSU might as well stick with cobbling together an independent schedule, if they wouldn't get a cut.

Cool knee-jerk reaction.

Reality calling. NMSU asked for exactly those terms in trying to stay. They wanted to join all-sports but were more than willing to take football only on those terms.

Right now, NMSU could go 12-0 in 2018 and not play in any bowl.
They are ineligible for the Access spot because they wouldn't be a conference champion.
Their deal with Tucson only gives them a spot if one of the Sun Belt or MWC doesn't have enough bowl eligible teams.
No other bowl if vacant has to take them unless the only other choice is a sub .500 team.

The CFP is going to pay the Sun Belt the same amount whether the league has 10 members, 11 members, or 12 members.
ESPN isn't going to kick in more cash if the Aggies come in.

The only mutual benefit available is making scheduling easier for both parties and giving NMSU a better path to a bowl. For that each Sun Belt member should forego about $76,000 in revenue?

(08-18-2018 04:00 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  New Mexico St would be a terrific full member for a 12th in football. Now, the Sun Belt doesn’t need a 12th football school if UT Arlington adds a football program due to the conference championship game rules. However, if they choose to add New Mexico St for football, then it’s be foolish to not add them as a full member. Basketball is their golden goose.

Unless UALR leaves or expelled that makes everything else a messy 13.