(10-25-2020 05:32 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Believe me, the BE was every bit as disrespected in BCS world as the AAC is in FBS world.

(10-26-2020 05:20 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(10-25-2020 05:32 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Believe me, the BE was every bit as disrespected in BCS world as the AAC is in FBS world.

...except they still had a seat at the table.

But yeah. They were completely disrespected.

But for them it wasn't about respect. It was about $. And it still is.

(10-26-2020 06:48 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  

(10-25-2020 05:32 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Believe me, the BE was every bit as disrespected in BCS world as the AAC is in FBS world.

(10-26-2020 05:20 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(10-25-2020 05:32 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Believe me, the BE was every bit as disrespected in BCS world as the AAC is in FBS world.

...except they still had a seat at the table.

But yeah. They were completely disrespected.

But for them it wasn't about respect. It was about $. And it still is.

This. We'd all be happy as pigs in sh!t in the AAC if we were getting $100 million a year each.

(10-25-2020 05:32 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Believe me, the BE was every bit as disrespected in BCS world as the AAC is in FBS world.

You are absolutely correct. The Big East had access via the BCS, but it was constantly **** on as an inferior product. The Big East was 8-7 in BCS Bowl Games (9-7 if you count The American's brief stint under the BCS regime). That .533 winning percentage was third among BCS conferences behind the SEC and the Pac 12. Despite its relative success in those games, the Big East was chosen for BCS games less than any other BCS conference. Its 16 appearances (15 if you deduct the American's appearance) was less than the ACC's 18, despite a winning percentage of .278 (yes, you read that right). The Big 10 secured the most appearances despite a .464 winning percentage. The Big 12 was selected for BCS bowls 22 times and returned a .455 winning percentage. The Big East sent three teams to national championship games, ending with a record of 1-2 - the exact same record as the Big 10 and PAC 12 ('05 USC win was vacated). In other words, the perception gap between the Big East and its peer conferences wasn't based on fact, it was based on media hype and bull****.

Bonus question: guess how many times a Big East team landed an at-large BCS bid?

Trick question. It never happened.

(10-26-2020 02:05 PM)MickMack Wrote:  The Big East was 8-7 in BCS Bowl Games (9-7 if you count The American's brief stint under the BCS regime).

...the Big East was chosen for...16 (BCS) appearances (15 if you deduct the American's appearance)

That (Big East) (BCS) .533 winning percentage was third among BCS conferences behind the SEC and the Pac 12.

ACC (had) 18 (appearances, with) a winning percentage of .278

The Big 10 (had) a .464 (BCS) winning percentage.

The Big 12 had a .455 (BCS) winning percentage.

The Big East sent three teams to national championship games, ending with a record of 1-2 - the exact same record as the Big 10 and PAC 12 .

These objective facts clearly demonstrate that the Big East was a full-fledged - - middle of the pack - - BCS FB conference (despite having fewer teams than the Big 10, Big 12, PAC, and SEC).

(10-26-2020 06:48 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  

(10-25-2020 05:32 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Believe me, the BE was every bit as disrespected in BCS world as the AAC is in FBS world.

(10-26-2020 05:20 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(10-25-2020 05:32 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Believe me, the BE was every bit as disrespected in BCS world as the AAC is in FBS world.

...except they still had a seat at the table.

But yeah. They were completely disrespected.

But for them it wasn't about respect. It was about $. And it still is.

Granted, it's all about the $$$.

My point is that the situation between the (Old) Big East and the AAC isn't quite equal. Yes, the AAC and the OBE were both "crapped" on in terms of reputation and brand. But the (Old) Big East at least had a "spot" in the BCS system...yeah, it was the crappiest spot and, yes, the Bowls actively tried to avoid getting the Big East representative (kind of like I was a kid and being "chosen" last to play on someone's team that had no other choice)... but we had a spot. Remember when WVU was one game away from playing in the BCS Championship Bowl (what was it...2006 or 2007)? Remember 2010 where UC was so close to getting selected for the BCS Championship if Texas hadn't pulled off the B12 CCG win? The AAC has no such spot in the CFP.

The AAC's spot can't even really be equated with the MW during the BCS days because the MW "busted" their way into the BCS system several times.

Yeah...the money is terrible, but at least under the old days the BE teams had a real chance to play for the BCS championship. We don't have the money and we don't have a spot in the system.

(10-26-2020 03:48 PM)jedclampett Wrote:  

(10-26-2020 02:05 PM)MickMack Wrote:  The Big East was 8-7 in BCS Bowl Games (9-7 if you count The American's brief stint under the BCS regime).

...the Big East was chosen for...16 (BCS) appearances (15 if you deduct the American's appearance)

That (Big East) (BCS) .533 winning percentage was third among BCS conferences behind the SEC and the Pac 12.

ACC (had) 18 (appearances, with) a winning percentage of .278

The Big 10 (had) a .464 (BCS) winning percentage.

The Big 12 had a .455 (BCS) winning percentage.

The Big East sent three teams to national championship games, ending with a record of 1-2 - the exact same record as the Big 10 and PAC 12 .

These objective facts clearly demonstrate that the Big East was a full-fledged - - middle of the pack - - BCS FB conference (despite having fewer teams than the Big 10, Big 12, PAC, and SEC).

Yep. But the way it was disparaged as "The Big Least" you'd think they were carting out Sun Belt quality teams. It's the same b.s. now with the AAC. They've sent a team to the NY6 Bowl 4 times, double any other non-P5 conference. Record is 2-2 in those games, better than the PAC 12 (.400), the Big 12 (.300) and Notre Dame (.000). While the ACC is better, it's largely because of Clemson. Its teams have a winning percentage of .250 outside of Clemson (eerily similar to that .278 winning percentage it trotted out in BCS games). Just like the Big East the issue isn't that the AAC is a lesser product, it's that sports networks want to protect their big dollar babies. Make no mistake - ESPN and its cohorts benefitted tremendously by taking 6 auto-qualifier/power conferences down to 5. One less big boy to pay big dollars to. And that's why it is hell-bent on making sure it stays at 5. The whole thing is a crock of **** and has done permanent damage to college football.

(10-26-2020 04:06 PM)MickMack Wrote:  

(10-26-2020 03:48 PM)jedclampett Wrote:  

(10-26-2020 02:05 PM)MickMack Wrote:  The Big East was 8-7 in BCS Bowl Games (9-7 if you count The American's brief stint under the BCS regime).

...the Big East was chosen for...16 (BCS) appearances (15 if you deduct the American's appearance)

That (Big East) (BCS) .533 winning percentage was third among BCS conferences behind the SEC and the Pac 12.

ACC (had) 18 (appearances, with) a winning percentage of .278

The Big 10 (had) a .464 (BCS) winning percentage.

The Big 12 had a .455 (BCS) winning percentage.

The Big East sent three teams to national championship games, ending with a record of 1-2 - the exact same record as the Big 10 and PAC 12 .

These objective facts clearly demonstrate that the Big East was a full-fledged - - middle of the pack - - BCS FB conference (despite having fewer teams than the Big 10, Big 12, PAC, and SEC).

Yep. But the way it was disparaged as "The Big Least" you'd think they were carting out Sun Belt quality teams. It's the same b.s. now with the AAC.

They've sent a team to the NY6 Bowl 4 times, double any other non-P5 conference. Record is 2-2 in those games, better than the PAC 12 (.400), the Big 12 (.300) and Notre Dame (.000).

While the ACC is better, it's largely because of Clemson. Its teams have a winning percentage of .250 outside of Clemson (eerily similar to that .278 winning percentage it trotted out in BCS games).

Just like the Big East the issue isn't that the AAC is a lesser product, it's that sports networks want to protect their big dollar babies.

Make no mistake - ESPN and its cohorts benefitted tremendously by taking 6 auto-qualifier/power conferences down to 5. One less big boy to pay big dollars to. And that's why it is hell-bent on making sure it stays at 5. The whole thing is a crock of **** and has done permanent damage to college football.

Absolutely - that's a very accurate description of the current situation.

However, throughout most of the history of college football, there have always been at least six - and at times seven - dominant/power conferences (ACC, B10, B12, PAC, SEC + SWC &/or BE), not five.

More importantly, ESPN is no longer the only major broadcaster of college football games, and only one of the P5 conferences (the ACC) has granted all of its Tier 1, 2, and 3 broadcasting rights to a single network.

In this increasingly competitive situation, with Fox and CBS demonstrating the wherewithal to make major multi-year commitments to the various conferences, it is going to become harder to prevent the upper-tier non-P5 conferences from becoming more competitive so that they can negotiate significantly better broadcasting deals in the years ahead.

Thus, it may only be a matter of time before the AAC schools will begin to be paid what they are worth. It was a clever maneuver by ESPN, while it lasted, but it will eventually turn out to be only a temporary one.

(10-24-2020 02:49 AM)jedclampett Wrote:  .

The Big East FB Conference (1991-2012) - - the predecessor of the American Athletic Conference - - was one of the nation's leading (BCS) football conferences, and was considered the equivalent of a "power conference" throughout its existence.

The American Athletic Conference had 4 Final AP Top 25 teams in 2019, an accomplishment that the Big East FB conference matched only three times (1993, 2001, and 2002), and never exceeded.

Moreover, the American had a total of 9 Final AP Top 25 FB teams between 2017 and 2019, an accomplishment that the Big East matched only twice (1991-1993, 1993-1995), and exceeded only once (2000-2002).


Big East Football:

1991 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, Syracuse)
1992 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Miami, Syracuse, BC)
1993 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (WVU, BC, Miami, VT)
1994 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, BC)
1995 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (VT, Miami, Syracuse)
1996 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (VT, Miami, Syracuse)
1997 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Syracuse)
1998 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Miami, VT, Syracuse)
1999 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (VT, Miami)
2000 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, VT)
2001 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Miami, Syracuse, VT, BC)
2002 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Miami, VT, Pitt, WVU)
2003 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Miami)
2004 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (BC, Pitt)
2005 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (WVU, Louisville)
2006 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Louisville, Rutgers, WVU)
2007 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (WVU, Cincy)
2008 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincy, WVU)
2009 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Cincy, Pitt, WVU)
2010 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2011 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincy, WVU)
2012 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Louisville)

AAC Football:

2013 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (UCF, Louisville)
2014 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Memphis)
2015 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Houston, Navy)
2016 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (USF)
2017 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (UCF, USF, Memphis)
2018 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (USF, Cincinnati)
2019 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Cincinnati, UCF, Memphis, Navy)

NOTE: 2020 # of AP Top 30 teams (Week 8): 4 (Cincy, SMU, Memphis, Tulsa)

.

Of additional interest, the AAC has had more Final AP Top 25 football teams since its inception than the Big East FB Conference had during the last 11 years of its existence.

Big East Average: 2.00 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season (2001-2012).

AAC Average: 2.15 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season (2013-2019).

.

These accomplishments provide further evidence that the AAC FB conference has begun to attain near-parity with some power conferences with respect to some of the achievements of the conference's upper-tier FB teams.*

.............................................................................................

* For example, the AAC had more Final AP Top 25 FB teams between 2017 and 2019 (total=9) than either the ACC (total=7) or PAC-12 (total=7) during the same period.

.

CONCLUSION:

The trajectory of the development of the football programs in the American Athletic Conference appears to be indicative of a trend toward de facto power conference status.

.

Your statement while true is a bit misleading. The BE only had 8 teams, not 12.

(10-27-2020 08:03 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  

(10-24-2020 02:49 AM)jedclampett Wrote:  .

The Big East FB Conference (1991-2012) - - the predecessor of the American Athletic Conference - - was one of the nation's leading (BCS) football conferences, and was considered the equivalent of a "power conference" throughout its existence.

The American Athletic Conference had 4 Final AP Top 25 teams in 2019, an accomplishment that the Big East FB conference matched only three times (1993, 2001, and 2002), and never exceeded.

Moreover, the American had a total of 9 Final AP Top 25 FB teams between 2017 and 2019, an accomplishment that the Big East matched only twice (1991-1993, 1993-1995), and exceeded only once (2000-2002).


Big East Football:

1991 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, Syracuse)
1992 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Miami, Syracuse, BC)
1993 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (WVU, BC, Miami, VT)
1994 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, BC)
1995 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (VT, Miami, Syracuse)
1996 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (VT, Miami, Syracuse)
1997 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Syracuse)
1998 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Miami, VT, Syracuse)
1999 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (VT, Miami)
2000 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, VT)
2001 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Miami, Syracuse, VT, BC)
2002 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Miami, VT, Pitt, WVU)
2003 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Miami)
2004 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (BC, Pitt)
2005 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (WVU, Louisville)
2006 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Louisville, Rutgers, WVU)
2007 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (WVU, Cincy)
2008 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincy, WVU)
2009 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Cincy, Pitt, WVU)
2010 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2011 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincy, WVU)
2012 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Louisville)

AAC Football:

2013 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (UCF, Louisville)
2014 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Memphis)
2015 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Houston, Navy)
2016 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (USF)
2017 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (UCF, USF, Memphis)
2018 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (USF, Cincinnati)
2019 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Cincinnati, UCF, Memphis, Navy)

NOTE: 2020 # of AP Top 30 teams (Week 8): 4 (Cincy, SMU, Memphis, Tulsa)

.

Of additional interest, the AAC has had more Final AP Top 25 football teams since its inception than the Big East FB Conference had during the last 11 years of its existence.

Big East Average: 2.00 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season (2001-2012).

AAC Average: 2.15 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season (2013-2019).

.

These accomplishments provide further evidence that the AAC FB conference has begun to attain near-parity with some power conferences with respect to some of the achievements of the conference's upper-tier FB teams.*

.............................................................................................

* For example, the AAC had more Final AP Top 25 FB teams between 2017 and 2019 (total=9) than either the ACC (total=7) or PAC-12 (total=7) during the same period.

.

CONCLUSION:

The trajectory of the development of the football programs in the American Athletic Conference appears to be indicative of a trend toward de facto power conference status.

.

Your statement while true is a bit misleading. The BE only had 8 teams, not 12.

Yes but the AAC is in the group of five that historically get **** on when it comes to being ranked. Memphis not being ranked this week is a good example. Not saying we're top twenty five for sure, but if a P5 team with a 3-1 record with their loss being on the road by 3 to a top 25 team, would be ranked in the teens.

(10-27-2020 10:33 AM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 08:03 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  

(10-24-2020 02:49 AM)jedclampett Wrote:  .

The Big East FB Conference (1991-2012) - - the predecessor of the American Athletic Conference - - was one of the nation's leading (BCS) football conferences, and was considered the equivalent of a "power conference" throughout its existence.

The American Athletic Conference had 4 Final AP Top 25 teams in 2019, an accomplishment that the Big East FB conference matched only three times (1993, 2001, and 2002), and never exceeded.

Moreover, the American had a total of 9 Final AP Top 25 FB teams between 2017 and 2019, an accomplishment that the Big East matched only twice (1991-1993, 1993-1995), and exceeded only once (2000-2002).


Big East Football:

1991 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, Syracuse)
1992 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Miami, Syracuse, BC)
1993 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (WVU, BC, Miami, VT)
1994 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, BC)
1995 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (VT, Miami, Syracuse)
1996 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (VT, Miami, Syracuse)
1997 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Syracuse)
1998 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Miami, VT, Syracuse)
1999 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (VT, Miami)
2000 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, VT)
2001 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Miami, Syracuse, VT, BC)
2002 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Miami, VT, Pitt, WVU)
2003 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Miami)
2004 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (BC, Pitt)
2005 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (WVU, Louisville)
2006 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Louisville, Rutgers, WVU)
2007 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (WVU, Cincy)
2008 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincy, WVU)
2009 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Cincy, Pitt, WVU)
2010 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2011 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincy, WVU)
2012 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Louisville)

AAC Football:

2013 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (UCF, Louisville)
2014 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Memphis)
2015 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Houston, Navy)
2016 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (USF)
2017 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (UCF, USF, Memphis)
2018 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (USF, Cincinnati)
2019 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Cincinnati, UCF, Memphis, Navy)

NOTE: 2020 # of AP Top 30 teams (Week 8): 4 (Cincy, SMU, Memphis, Tulsa)

.

Of additional interest, the AAC has had more Final AP Top 25 football teams since its inception than the Big East FB Conference had during the last 11 years of its existence.

Big East Average: 2.00 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season (2001-2012).

AAC Average: 2.15 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season (2013-2019).

.

These accomplishments provide further evidence that the AAC FB conference has begun to attain near-parity with some power conferences with respect to some of the achievements of the conference's upper-tier FB teams.*

.............................................................................................

* For example, the AAC had more Final AP Top 25 FB teams between 2017 and 2019 (total=9) than either the ACC (total=7) or PAC-12 (total=7) during the same period.

.

CONCLUSION:

The trajectory of the development of the football programs in the American Athletic Conference appears to be indicative of a trend toward de facto power conference status.

.

Your statement while true is a bit misleading. The BE only had 8 teams, not 12.

Yes but the AAC is in the group of five that historically get **** on when it comes to being ranked. Memphis not being ranked this week is a good example. Not saying we're top twenty five for sure, but if a P5 team with a 3-1 record with their loss being on the road by 3 to a top 25 team, would be ranked in the teens.

Many people watched the UCF game, Tiger defense is sooooo bad. Then we looked like poo against Temple. I'm not sold either. Never seen such a bad scheme combined with missed tackles. The safety position always looks completely lost. These problems all come down to coaching and honestly I'm worried. All the weight can't be put on Brady White. What he did against UCF (IMO) was the best single game performance in Memphis Tiger history. Without him we are a sub .500 team. I hope I'm wrong and the d turns it around but I'm not optimistic.

Cool. Somebody do rankings and NY6 bowls of schools that left the big east for other conferences vs the AAC.

Old BE schools are just filler, tackling dummies. Mediocre programs doing mediocre things and getting a check. Good for them. Cash the check and stfu. You are whoowers.

Just know what you are.

(10-27-2020 10:33 AM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 08:03 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  

(10-24-2020 02:49 AM)jedclampett Wrote:  .

The Big East FB Conference (1991-2012) - - the predecessor of the American Athletic Conference - - was one of the nation's leading (BCS) football conferences, and was considered the equivalent of a "power conference" throughout its existence.

The American Athletic Conference had 4 Final AP Top 25 teams in 2019, an accomplishment that the Big East FB conference matched only three times (1993, 2001, and 2002), and never exceeded.

Moreover, the American had a total of 9 Final AP Top 25 FB teams between 2017 and 2019, an accomplishment that the Big East matched only twice (1991-1993, 1993-1995), and exceeded only once (2000-2002).


Big East Football:

1991 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, Syracuse)
1992 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Miami, Syracuse, BC)
1993 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (WVU, BC, Miami, VT)
1994 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, BC)
1995 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (VT, Miami, Syracuse)
1996 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (VT, Miami, Syracuse)
1997 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Syracuse)
1998 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Miami, VT, Syracuse)
1999 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (VT, Miami)
2000 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Miami, VT)
2001 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Miami, Syracuse, VT, BC)
2002 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Miami, VT, Pitt, WVU)
2003 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Miami)
2004 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (BC, Pitt)
2005 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (WVU, Louisville)
2006 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Louisville, Rutgers, WVU)
2007 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (WVU, Cincy)
2008 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincy, WVU)
2009 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (Cincy, Pitt, WVU)
2010 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 0
2011 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Cincy, WVU)
2012 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Louisville)

AAC Football:

2013 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (UCF, Louisville)
2014 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (Memphis)
2015 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (Houston, Navy)
2016 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 1 (USF)
2017 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 3 (UCF, USF, Memphis)
2018 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 2 (USF, Cincinnati)
2019 # of Final AP Top 25 teams: 4 (Cincinnati, UCF, Memphis, Navy)

NOTE: 2020 # of AP Top 30 teams (Week 8): 4 (Cincy, SMU, Memphis, Tulsa)

.

Of additional interest, the AAC has had more Final AP Top 25 football teams since its inception than the Big East FB Conference had during the last 11 years of its existence.

Big East Average: 2.00 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season (2001-2012).

AAC Average: 2.15 Final AP Top 25 football teams per season (2013-2019).

.

These accomplishments provide further evidence that the AAC FB conference has begun to attain near-parity with some power conferences with respect to some of the achievements of the conference's upper-tier FB teams.*

.............................................................................................

* For example, the AAC had more Final AP Top 25 FB teams between 2017 and 2019 (total=9) than either the ACC (total=7) or PAC-12 (total=7) during the same period.

.

CONCLUSION:

The trajectory of the development of the football programs in the American Athletic Conference appears to be indicative of a trend toward de facto power conference status.

.

Your statement while true is a bit misleading. The BE only had 8 teams, not 12.

Yes but the AAC is in the group of five that historically get **** on when it comes to being ranked. Memphis not being ranked this week is a good example. Not saying we're top twenty five for sure, but if a P5 team with a 3-1 record with their loss being on the road by 3 to a top 25 team, would be ranked in the teens.

What matters is that the former Big East teams took the cash. They've got their reward. The American teams get the better reward from the fans standpoint, because they're more relevant than ever before. Not only that, but the dough will start flowing eventually, so we'll get the glory and the cash in the long run. In the mean time, more fun for us!

(10-24-2020 05:14 AM)bearcat29 Wrote:  That is good analysis, but you fail to realize that the other conferences didn't like the BE and that is why they blew it up. UC a few seconds from getting into the BCS title game was probably its greatest mistake. I believe that accelerated the break up.

The other problem with the BE was the top end talent. They didn't really have that OSU or Alabama. Sure, you had good teams but no old money flagship team (WVU was somewhat close). Its like ACC without Clemson and Miami, a lot of good to decent teams, but no one team will wow you year in and out.

Before they get included, the other conferences will pluck any combo of UCF, UC, Houston or Memphis to kill the P6 narrative...or just change the rules.

And Cincy nearly making that title game is no doubt why the CFP includes no computer rankings. And the MWC nearly getting AQ status is why the CFP/NY6/P5 has no formula for becoming a power conference.

(10-27-2020 12:38 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(10-24-2020 05:14 AM)bearcat29 Wrote:  That is good analysis, but you fail to realize that the other conferences didn't like the BE and that is why they blew it up. UC a few seconds from getting into the BCS title game was probably its greatest mistake. I believe that accelerated the break up.

The other problem with the BE was the top end talent. They didn't really have that OSU or Alabama. Sure, you had good teams but no old money flagship team (WVU was somewhat close). Its like ACC without Clemson and Miami, a lot of good to decent teams, but no one team will wow you year in and out.

Before they get included, the other conferences will pluck any combo of UCF, UC, Houston or Memphis to kill the P6 narrative...or just change the rules.

And Cincy nearly making that title game is no doubt why the CFP includes no computer rankings. And the MWC nearly getting AQ status is why the CFP/NY6/P5 has no formula for becoming a power conference.

Some Bearcat fans argue shenanigans with the Texas and Nebraska game that year. UC had defeated Pitt to finish the regular season 12-0 and #4 in the BCS polls. #2 Alabama defeated #1 Florida in the SEC Championship Game. That night Nebraska was up on #3 Texas in the B12 Championship Game 12-10 when it appeared Texas QB Colt McCoy threw an incomplete pass to finish the game. However, the officials convened and determined there was a clock error and added one second. This allowed the Longhorns to set up a game winning field goal, thrusting them into the NCG against Alabama.

Yeah, they were scared as heck that UC was going to go to the NCG under the BCS format, that is why they changed it all.

(10-27-2020 12:38 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(10-24-2020 05:14 AM)bearcat29 Wrote:  That is good analysis, but you fail to realize that the other conferences didn't like the BE and that is why they blew it up. UC a few seconds from getting into the BCS title game was probably its greatest mistake. I believe that accelerated the break up.

The other problem with the BE was the top end talent. They didn't really have that OSU or Alabama. Sure, you had good teams but no old money flagship team (WVU was somewhat close). Its like ACC without Clemson and Miami, a lot of good to decent teams, but no one team will wow you year in and out.

Before they get included, the other conferences will pluck any combo of UCF, UC, Houston or Memphis to kill the P6 narrative...or just change the rules.

And Cincy nearly making that title game is no doubt why the CFP includes no computer rankings. And the MWC nearly getting AQ status is why the CFP/NY6/P5 has no formula for becoming a power conference.

True, but with 10 of the top 30 teams currently being from non-P5 conferences, one wonders how much longer the P5 can continue their monopolistic control.

(10-28-2020 06:58 AM)jedclampett Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 12:38 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(10-24-2020 05:14 AM)bearcat29 Wrote:  That is good analysis, but you fail to realize that the other conferences didn't like the BE and that is why they blew it up. UC a few seconds from getting into the BCS title game was probably its greatest mistake. I believe that accelerated the break up.

The other problem with the BE was the top end talent. They didn't really have that OSU or Alabama. Sure, you had good teams but no old money flagship team (WVU was somewhat close). Its like ACC without Clemson and Miami, a lot of good to decent teams, but no one team will wow you year in and out.

Before they get included, the other conferences will pluck any combo of UCF, UC, Houston or Memphis to kill the P6 narrative...or just change the rules.

And Cincy nearly making that title game is no doubt why the CFP includes no computer rankings. And the MWC nearly getting AQ status is why the CFP/NY6/P5 has no formula for becoming a power conference.

True, but with 10 of the top 30 teams currently being from non-P5 conferences, one wonders how much longer the P5 can continue their monopolistic control.

As long as ESPN and Fox let them unless the antitrust reforms in Congress actually pass and improve our case.