RE: MWC statement on realignment
It's going to be an interesting battle for supremacy. Which conference can raid the other?
Let me game out what I think each conference should be looking for...
If the AAC comes out on top...
Current members: Temple, East Carolina, USF, Tulane, Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, Navy, Wichita State*
We know they want Boise State, but they should also add Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, and New Mexico. They should also add Rice to get back into Houston.
These are flagship schools in new states that will appreciate Texas exposure and Eastern exposure. Everyone else is either too far or doesn't have any brand recognition. The addition of Air Force puts 2 service academies in the same league that's important going forward.
Now, the goal should be to go to 16. Maybe you can get Army in the East now that the other academies are in. Finish off with either Georgia State or UAB in order to access more Southern markets with quality facilities.
If the Mountain West comes out on top...
Current members: Hawaii, San Diego State, Fresno State, San Jose State, UNLV, Nevada, Utah State, Boise State, Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, New Mexico
They should go after SMU, Tulsa, Rice, and UTSA. They should also take Gonzaga.
Expanding into TX will help them considerably, but there's really no reason to go further East. After all, you still have Hawaii and the West Coast schools. The travel will get ridiculous because there's not really a core in the Mid-South you can take. The city of Houston is about as far East as you can reasonably go and stay cohesive.
Conclusion:
The core of Front Range schools and the typically disgruntled Boise State make for a good group to expand with. The Mountain West has a more uphill climb because there's not a close knit group of schools in the Midwest of Mid-South that might be interested in moving together.
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