Always looking for more Eastern exposure, and ‘almost‘ starting alliances during the last round of realignment with CUSA, the Big East, and the American... what will he try this time around?

(07-22-2021 08:05 AM)Crayton Wrote:  Always looking for more Eastern exposure, and ‘almost‘ starting alliances during the last round of realignment with CUSA, the Big East, and the American... what will he try this time around?

Seems a possibility. I don't foresee the OU and UT to the SEC as the only move. In fact, we may be facing a major wave of realignment. If so, an alliance (say a merger of what remains of the AAC and MWC after the big boys do their thing) is possible.

Its hard to say if the PAC/B1G or ACC will feel compelled to pick off more pieces of the XII.

MWC realistically could be looking at SMU and/or Wichita from the AAC.

I doubt a combo conference is in order like was proposed with the MWC-CUSA merger at one point.

If I’m Thompson, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

The AAC has 11 members. At most, they lose 4 members, but probably more like 1-2. That’s still enough to stand alone.

Maybe, if the AAC lost 4 members, they’d entertain some 20 member alliance with the MWC but I think it’s doubtful.

If I’m Craig Thompson, I wait to see what happens with Oklahoma and Texas. If they go, see who the XII takes as backfill which seem to include options from AAC, MWC, and BYU. I suspect the XII goes to 14 by adding BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis, and South Florida. That leaves the AAC with: East Carolina, SMU, Temple, Tulane, and Tulsa plus Navy (football) and Wichita St (non-football). The MWC should look to adding Rice, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa plus Wichita St (non-football). CUSA backfills or stays at 13. Navy returns to independence in football (Patriot). East Carolina and Temple go independent in football and join the A10 for non-football sports.

XIV
East: Central Florida, Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis, South Florida, TCU, West Virginia
West: BYU, Baylor, Iowa St, Kansas, Kansas St, Oklahoma St, Texas Tech

MWC
East: Air Force, Colorado St, New Mexico, Rice, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa, Wyoming
West: Boise St, Fresno St, Hawaii*, Nevada, San Diego St, San Jose St, UNLV, Utah St
* Football-Only
** Non-Football: Wichita St

(07-22-2021 09:18 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If I’m Thompson, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

The AAC has 11 members. At most, they lose 4 members, but probably more like 1-2. That’s still enough to stand alone.

Maybe, if the AAC lost 4 members, they’d entertain some 20 member alliance with the MWC but I think it’s doubtful.

But it's who the AAC loses that matters. Losing Houston is a big hit. Losing Cincy on top of that really hurts. Losing UCF as well would cause tremendous pain IMHO. The conference would survive but the media deal and perception would both take a huge hit.

(07-22-2021 11:13 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(07-22-2021 09:18 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If I’m Thompson, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

The AAC has 11 members. At most, they lose 4 members, but probably more like 1-2. That’s still enough to stand alone.

Maybe, if the AAC lost 4 members, they’d entertain some 20 member alliance with the MWC but I think it’s doubtful.

But it's who the AAC loses that matters. Losing Houston is a big hit. Losing Cincy on top of that really hurts. Losing UCF as well would cause tremendous pain IMHO. The conference would survive but the media deal and perception would both take a huge hit.

Right. Look at the AAC itself.

How did the AAC separate itself from CUSA? By taking away several members of CUSA including the strongest ones.

How can a new Big 12 separate itself from the AAC? By taking away the strongest members of the AAC. They won't take just one.

(07-22-2021 01:50 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(07-22-2021 11:13 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(07-22-2021 09:18 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If I’m Thompson, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

The AAC has 11 members. At most, they lose 4 members, but probably more like 1-2. That’s still enough to stand alone.

Maybe, if the AAC lost 4 members, they’d entertain some 20 member alliance with the MWC but I think it’s doubtful.

But it's who the AAC loses that matters. Losing Houston is a big hit. Losing Cincy on top of that really hurts. Losing UCF as well would cause tremendous pain IMHO. The conference would survive but the media deal and perception would both take a huge hit.

Right. Look at the AAC itself.

How did the AAC separate itself from CUSA? By taking away several members of CUSA including the strongest ones.

How can a new Big 12 separate itself from the AAC? By taking away the strongest members of the AAC. They won't take just one.

Yup. Its possible they may also want to maintain as high a profile as possible and elect to do so by increasing the size and footprint of the conference. They could add Boise, BYU, Houston, Cinci, Memphis, and UCF. That pretty much takes the biggest indy (other than ND) and everyone who has played on NYD access bowl of late.

(07-22-2021 01:50 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(07-22-2021 11:13 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(07-22-2021 09:18 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If I’m Thompson, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

The AAC has 11 members. At most, they lose 4 members, but probably more like 1-2. That’s still enough to stand alone.

Maybe, if the AAC lost 4 members, they’d entertain some 20 member alliance with the MWC but I think it’s doubtful.

But it's who the AAC loses that matters. Losing Houston is a big hit. Losing Cincy on top of that really hurts. Losing UCF as well would cause tremendous pain IMHO. The conference would survive but the media deal and perception would both take a huge hit.

Right. Look at the AAC itself.

How did the AAC separate itself from CUSA? By taking away several members of CUSA including the strongest ones.

How can a new Big 12 separate itself from the AAC? By taking away the strongest members of the AAC. They won't take just one.

And they are probably better off concentrating on the AAC raid vs. slipping in BYU and especially Colorado State as they never win.