(09-16-2021 09:31 AM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  If realignment helps CUSA focus more their attention to the West then I think they'll do well.

NMSU
UTEP
UNT
UTSA
LaTech
TxSt or Lamar

That is a solid FB/BB west division. Their bball tournament is there. Their major sponsors are their. This might be a boon for CUSA-W.

Depends on who they lose in CUSA-E but I see no reason they can't be better than they are now.

Losing UNCC or ODU and replacing with JaxSt would make them a stronger FB league. If CUSA East could snag JaxSt and Liberty while only losing MU/ODU/UNCC then I think the remaining members would rejoice. That would make the East:

Liberty (who probably would love to have that Texas flank)
MTSU
WKU
JaxSt
FIU
FAU.

There's also UConn and UMass if more FB presence is needed.

This means the CUSA only needs to bring in two FCS teams.

I like that plan under those circumstances. I think I'll forward this to Judy if you're ok with that?

(09-16-2021 09:31 AM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  If realignment helps CUSA focus more their attention to the West then I think they'll do well.

NMSU
UTEP
UNT
UTSA
LaTech
TxSt or Lamar

That is a solid FB/BB west division. Their bball tournament is there. Their major sponsors are their. This might be a boon for CUSA-W.

Depends on who they lose in CUSA-E but I see no reason they can't be better than they are now.

Losing UNCC or ODU and replacing with JaxSt would make them a stronger FB league. If CUSA East could snag JaxSt and Liberty while only losing MU/ODU/UNCC then I think the remaining members would rejoice. That would make the East:

Liberty (who probably would love to have that Texas flank)
MTSU
WKU
JaxSt
FIU
FAU.

There's also UConn and UMass if more FB presence is needed.

This means the CUSA only needs to bring in two FCS teams.

Would Tx St leave the Sun Belt for this scenario? If so I could see the rumored trio of Marshall/USM/ODU come to fruition.

(09-16-2021 07:35 AM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-14-2021 09:15 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(09-14-2021 09:02 AM)Surbadger Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 02:04 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 10:51 AM)solohawks Wrote:  Best case scenario for CUSA

AAC takes UAB and Rice

MWC takes UTEP and UNT

Sunbelt takes USM and UTSA

That leaves 8 members in CUSA, La Tech with the 7 CUSA East. The formation of an Eastern Centric league would be possible as La Tech is cool with being an outlier and does not want to be in the Sunbelt. Those 8 could add JMU and 1 other school and then have UConn and UMass affiliate if they would like as well.

Another Best Case scenario for CUSA - AAC takes the Markets approach

AAC takes UAB, Charlotte, Ga St., Rice

Sunbelt takes USM, ODU, Marshall, JMU

CUSA takes Texas St, NMSU, UMass & UConn Football Only

CUSA West survives and the conference loses that pesky unhappy eastern contingent. Maintains a travel pair in Florida and a the WKU/MTSU combo which isn't bad for basketball. UMass and UConn can be added football only if desired

AAC - Market Conference
East - Temple, ECU, Charlotte, Ga St., UAB, USF
West - Memphis, Tulane, Rice, SMU, Navy/Wichita, Tulsa

Sunbelt - Football Culture Conference
East - Marshall, ODU, JMU, App, Coastal, Ga Southern
West - Troy, S Alabama, USM, ULM, Louisiana, Ark St

CUSA - Texas Centric Conference
East - MTSU, WKU, FIU, FAU, UMass, UConn
West - NMSU, UTEP, UTSA, Texas St, North Texas, La Tech

If this were the case, the Sunbelt would become the most competitive football league in the G5. Either way, I think Marshall is in a good state to jump to a better conference. If the AAC is smart, they will take Marshall and App State, but I think they would go Market over Good programs.

Yes, if something like this came to pass the Sunbelt would be in a great position and everyone would be talking about how ECU belongs in the Sunbelt and ODU in the AAC

That last part is already true. But ECU won’t go for that because of a longer history of sustained success at the FBS level.

The bigger issue for ECU is the SBC tv deal vs the AAC tv deal. I still can't find what y'all actually make from ESPN. Beat case scenario for the AAC is $5M per school imo. Also playing more than one home game per season on a weeknight (except Black Fri) is a non starter for us. We depend too much in attendance for our budget. Even in our worst stretch in history we still average about 30K.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

(09-16-2021 12:02 PM)b2b Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:35 AM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-14-2021 09:15 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(09-14-2021 09:02 AM)Surbadger Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 02:04 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Another Best Case scenario for CUSA - AAC takes the Markets approach

AAC takes UAB, Charlotte, Ga St., Rice

Sunbelt takes USM, ODU, Marshall, JMU

CUSA takes Texas St, NMSU, UMass & UConn Football Only

CUSA West survives and the conference loses that pesky unhappy eastern contingent. Maintains a travel pair in Florida and a the WKU/MTSU combo which isn't bad for basketball. UMass and UConn can be added football only if desired

AAC - Market Conference
East - Temple, ECU, Charlotte, Ga St., UAB, USF
West - Memphis, Tulane, Rice, SMU, Navy/Wichita, Tulsa

Sunbelt - Football Culture Conference
East - Marshall, ODU, JMU, App, Coastal, Ga Southern
West - Troy, S Alabama, USM, ULM, Louisiana, Ark St

CUSA - Texas Centric Conference
East - MTSU, WKU, FIU, FAU, UMass, UConn
West - NMSU, UTEP, UTSA, Texas St, North Texas, La Tech

If this were the case, the Sunbelt would become the most competitive football league in the G5. Either way, I think Marshall is in a good state to jump to a better conference. If the AAC is smart, they will take Marshall and App State, but I think they would go Market over Good programs.

Yes, if something like this came to pass the Sunbelt would be in a great position and everyone would be talking about how ECU belongs in the Sunbelt and ODU in the AAC

That last part is already true. But ECU won’t go for that because of a longer history of sustained success at the FBS level.

The bigger issue for ECU is the SBC tv deal vs the AAC tv deal. I still can't find what y'all actually make from ESPN. Beat case scenario for the AAC is $5M per school imo. Also playing more than one home game per season on a weeknight (except Black Fri) is a non starter for us. We depend too much in attendance for our budget. Even in our worst stretch in history we still average about 30K.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

The SBC will be making $1.2 per team in the current set up. Yes the AAC has a better TV deal. But will that be chewed up by travel cost out to the west coast? The AAC will likely get $3M per team after the defections.

(09-16-2021 07:49 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  NOTICE: CBS Dodd article mentions how many SBC schools?


-------------------------ZERO-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You want to get to the AAC, MWC ? So far you still have to go thru C-USA.


This should give schools like Marshall a pause before going 'Belt.

Also with no Belt teams leaving they only have room for two-- maybe just one if they want FCS JMU.
Do you feel the chance is worth it over improving our league with Jim Delany assisting and an almost certain addition of some Eastern school(s)?

Marshall (and others) should just tell C-USA presidents--"We're leaving unless major changes occur". THAT will get action!

This is a wake up call for C-USA leadership (Presidents, AD's) and major changes will be made!

(09-16-2021 07:39 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 12:02 PM)b2b Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:35 AM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-14-2021 09:15 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(09-14-2021 09:02 AM)Surbadger Wrote:  If this were the case, the Sunbelt would become the most competitive football league in the G5. Either way, I think Marshall is in a good state to jump to a better conference. If the AAC is smart, they will take Marshall and App State, but I think they would go Market over Good programs.

Yes, if something like this came to pass the Sunbelt would be in a great position and everyone would be talking about how ECU belongs in the Sunbelt and ODU in the AAC

That last part is already true. But ECU won’t go for that because of a longer history of sustained success at the FBS level.

The bigger issue for ECU is the SBC tv deal vs the AAC tv deal. I still can't find what y'all actually make from ESPN. Beat case scenario for the AAC is $5M per school imo. Also playing more than one home game per season on a weeknight (except Black Fri) is a non starter for us. We depend too much in attendance for our budget. Even in our worst stretch in history we still average about 30K.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

The SBC will be making $1.2 per team in the current set up. Yes the AAC has a better TV deal. But will that be chewed up by travel cost out to the west coast? The AAC will likely get $3M per team after the defections.

Do you have a link/source for the SBC per team amount?

(09-16-2021 08:01 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:49 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  NOTICE: CBS Dodd article mentions how many SBC schools?


-------------------------ZERO-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You want to get to the AAC, MWC ? So far you still have to go thru C-USA.


This should give schools like Marshall a pause before going 'Belt.

Also with no Belt teams leaving they only have room for two-- maybe just one if they want FCS JMU.
Do you feel the chance is worth it over improving our league with Jim Delany assisting and an almost certain addition of some Eastern school(s)?

Marshall (and others) should just tell C-USA presidents--"We're leaving unless major changes occur". THAT will get action!

This is a wake up call for C-USA leadership (Presidents, AD's) and major changes will be made!

Top, The AAC isn't chasing after CUSA teams because they are in CUSA, they are chasing after media markets. The SBC has largely ignored media markets, and instead targeted schools in more college style towns.

The SBC and AAC are both fully aware that they are going in different directions in terms of expansion targets, and are fully fine focusing on their common enemy.

Much respect to Arkansas State and Chiefsfan. I agree with you 90% of the time. But I have to stand by my post. You are correct-- but so am I. It does not change the fact that no SBC teams are mentioned for the AAC or MWC. Additionally, there will only be one or two spots in the SBC. The C-USA will take action to address their problems-- especially if teams threaten to jump. If the C-USA does not take drastic action they deserve what they get.

(09-16-2021 08:40 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:39 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 12:02 PM)b2b Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:35 AM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-14-2021 09:15 AM)solohawks Wrote:  Yes, if something like this came to pass the Sunbelt would be in a great position and everyone would be talking about how ECU belongs in the Sunbelt and ODU in the AAC

That last part is already true. But ECU won’t go for that because of a longer history of sustained success at the FBS level.

The bigger issue for ECU is the SBC tv deal vs the AAC tv deal. I still can't find what y'all actually make from ESPN. Beat case scenario for the AAC is $5M per school imo. Also playing more than one home game per season on a weeknight (except Black Fri) is a non starter for us. We depend too much in attendance for our budget. Even in our worst stretch in history we still average about 30K.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

The SBC will be making $1.2 per team in the current set up. Yes the AAC has a better TV deal. But will that be chewed up by travel cost out to the west coast? The AAC will likely get $3M per team after the defections.

Do you have a link/source for the SBC per team amount?

It hasn’t been released yet. Probably won’t be until the dust settles.

I think a lot of people are discounted FCS teams who do have better financial support and better facilities that could go before any schools in CUSA, MAC and SBC. Delaware is an R1 school that do fit culturally with AAC schools. They have better football at times, and they make a good add for Temple as well.

We need to think about this before we say which schools would go first. Texas State, New Mexico State, La-Monroe, FAU, FIU and UAB is not going anywhere.

(09-16-2021 10:48 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 08:40 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:39 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 12:02 PM)b2b Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:35 AM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  That last part is already true. But ECU won’t go for that because of a longer history of sustained success at the FBS level.

The bigger issue for ECU is the SBC tv deal vs the AAC tv deal. I still can't find what y'all actually make from ESPN. Beat case scenario for the AAC is $5M per school imo. Also playing more than one home game per season on a weeknight (except Black Fri) is a non starter for us. We depend too much in attendance for our budget. Even in our worst stretch in history we still average about 30K.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

The SBC will be making $1.2 per team in the current set up. Yes the AAC has a better TV deal. But will that be chewed up by travel cost out to the west coast? The AAC will likely get $3M per team after the defections.

Do you have a link/source for the SBC per team amount?

It hasn’t been released yet. Probably won’t be until the dust settles.

Is that something that was just negotiated?

(09-16-2021 08:01 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:49 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  NOTICE: CBS Dodd article mentions how many SBC schools?


-------------------------ZERO-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You want to get to the AAC, MWC ? So far you still have to go thru C-USA.


This should give schools like Marshall a pause before going 'Belt.

Also with no Belt teams leaving they only have room for two-- maybe just one if they want FCS JMU.
Do you feel the chance is worth it over improving our league with Jim Delany assisting and an almost certain addition of some Eastern school(s)?

Marshall (and others) should just tell C-USA presidents--"We're leaving unless major changes occur". THAT will get action!

This is a wake up call for C-USA leadership (Presidents, AD's) and major changes will be made!

There is 10 or so unnamed schools...I'd be willing to place a large wager at least some of those are in the Sun Belt. If (as most suspect) ESPN is running the show it would make sense they would target non-ESPN conferences like the MWC and CUSA to try to add the best of those non-ESPN schools to the inventory.

(09-17-2021 08:51 AM)freshtop Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 10:48 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 08:40 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:39 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 12:02 PM)b2b Wrote:  The bigger issue for ECU is the SBC tv deal vs the AAC tv deal. I still can't find what y'all actually make from ESPN. Beat case scenario for the AAC is $5M per school imo. Also playing more than one home game per season on a weeknight (except Black Fri) is a non starter for us. We depend too much in attendance for our budget. Even in our worst stretch in history we still average about 30K.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

The SBC will be making $1.2 per team in the current set up. Yes the AAC has a better TV deal. But will that be chewed up by travel cost out to the west coast? The AAC will likely get $3M per team after the defections.

Do you have a link/source for the SBC per team amount?

It hasn’t been released yet. Probably won’t be until the dust settles.

Is that something that was just negotiated?

Yes, along with an increase in linear games on ESPN and ESPN2.

(09-10-2021 01:09 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:58 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:48 PM)solohawks Wrote:  A healthy pruning of CUSA could leave the product leaner, meaner, and with a stronger regional identity.

pruning from specific areas could lead to even worst regional identity.

Plus the MWC might take a couple of Texas schools to further prune cusa. Cusa could be left with as few as 6 schools widely dispersed.

Worst case of schools left:

East: FIU, FAU, WKU, MT, Charlotte

West: UTEP

So if cusa wanted to preserve its ncaa autobid they only need to bring in a couple of D1 basketball schools. But if they wanted to continue as an FBS conference they need at least 2 all sports schools from fcs. Not too difficult to do but the tv contract would be all espn+ at best. Still would receive the 1 ncaa tournament bid and the cfp money.

And if this is what's left the MAC may want to take a look at WKU and MT. They are directly adjacent to the MAC footprint but do move us a bit south, which would be nice.

Wow this was a fun one to revisit. Several spot on predictions and several posts that flew right back in their faces.