ECU worked very hard for a long time to finally get their invite to the Big East, only for it dry up before they actually enter the room. How awesome would it be for the AAC to dry up only for ECU to end up in the SBC.

(01-15-2021 06:07 PM)debragga Wrote:  

(01-15-2021 03:21 PM)Georgia_Power_Company Wrote:  I can't see the AAC raiding the Sun Belt but if they did I think there are only a handful of teams that would appeal to them.

1. Georgia State - Atlanta Market, Large enrollment
2. Louisiana - Lafayette Market, recent success
3. Coastal - Myrtle Beach Market, recent success
4. USA - Mobile Market, high ceiling
5. Texas St - Well positioned near major markets

Everyone else is just not in a big enough market to appeal to the American.

Atlanta - #7
Lafayette - #122
Myrtle Beach-Florence - #99
Mobile-Pensacola (Fort Walton) - #57
Austin - #38 and nearby San Antonio - #31

Not that markets matter all that much anyway, but the only schools you listed where the market is an advantage are Georgia State and maybe Texas State. The Lafayette market isn't even in the top half of the conference, they only beat out Montomery-Selma (#126), Monroe-El Dorado (#143), and Jonesboro (#182).

Source for market numbers: https://mediatracks.com/resources/nielse...ings-2021/

The Lafayette Morgan City combined metro is about 650,000 people. Not insignificant in my opinion. The Myrtle Beach combined metro is about 560,000 people so again not insignificant.

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Honestly over the last two weeks I’ve been talking, reading, and thinking and I don’t see any scenario that helps Sun Belt TV deal unless the AAC crumbles and we take 2 of their leftovers and get a boost therefore we should stay at 10/12.

Heck if we lose a football member it might be better to stay at 9, play our 8 games, and the top 2 have their rematch. That’s what, an additional 45-55k per school lol.

True, markets don’t matter much. Academics are a factor. However, athletic budget is the bogey. Not one single MAC, CUSA, or SBC school comes close save ODU (and they’re not getting invited).

#53 Houston - $75,049,955 (#1 in AAC)
#61 USF - $55,045,769 (#11 in AAC)

***Private schools aren’t listed, but they are above the AAC minimum. Now compare with the top of CUSA. and the SBC.


#71 ODU - $46,956,655 (#1 CUSA)
#81 APP - $37,996,512 (#1 SBC)

ODU is really behind the 8 ball because they are so subsidized. Hell, JMU’s and Delaware’s budget are larger than ODU’s.

Nobody in either conference moves the needle. Schools were passed over/left behind for a reason.

(01-14-2021 09:58 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  The Biggest potential changes to the Sun Belt likely begin with the current changes happening to FCS

We know the WAC is restarting football, and approaching its mega conference idea. We know that by using divisional play, the conference is attempting to form a division of NMSU plus the Texas Southland Schools. There is reasonable since that a basketball centric division of NMSU and a bunch of Texas Schools with limited travel to the rest of the WAC would likely be enticing for UTA. Especially the idea that the WAC schools have designs on FBS Football down the road. It would not shock me to see them try and court UTA, and It would not shock me if UTA actually accepted the invite

On the other end. Central Arkansas announced today they would be playing football in the Atlantic Sun next year, and the ASun, doesn't currently sponsor football. If the ASun does what they are rumored to do, pick up Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky and a couple others, they suddenly not only have a viable football conference, they also suddenly have a decently attractive all sports lineup. UCA and Little Rock have been trying over the last year to develop a strong rivalry series between the schools. They play multiple games a year in every sport. It would not shock me if Little Rock was contacted by the ASun as well. And given that AState isn't really closely aligned with LR anymore, I don't see anything stopping the Trojans from moving

If that happens, the Sun Belt is suddenly what we've all dreamt of being, a Football only league, and suddenly the entire world of options is open to us.

I would love to see this scenario play out. Like you said, it would give us a lot of options if we ever wanted to add a couple of football programs.