Hearing that CUSA is about to take hits.....multiple hits.......not only from the American but also from the Sunbelt. Sounds like those two are working together and it will be interesting to see how CUSA adjusts. The "Eastern" football conference that some has been hoping for is currently on the back burner but things will be moving quick. CUSA is in a very tough spot now.

A healthy pruning of CUSA could leave the product leaner, meaner, and with a stronger regional identity.

...I'm wondering if CUSA is even around in 5 years... ...or less...

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  ...I'm wondering if CUSA is even around in 5 years... ...or less...

Like Government agencies, conferences are extremely difficult to kill

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  ...I'm wondering if CUSA is even around in 5 years... ...or less...

NCAA Basketball autobids dont just disappear.

(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.

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Like Government agencies, conferences are extremely difficult to kill

Exactly.

In any event, CUSA has 14 members. They could lose four and still not need to backfill, and anyone who thinks they will lose more than four is living in a fantasyland. Hell, they're so bloated at 14 they might be happy to have 10 instead.

(09-10-2021 01:00 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Like Government agencies, conferences are extremely difficult to kill

Exactly.

In any event, CUSA has 14 members. They could lose four and still not need to backfill, and anyone who thinks they will lose more than four is living in a fantasyland. Hell, they're so bloated at 14 they might be happy to have 10 instead.

they could arguably lose up to 6 teams.

(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.

How would this play out?

ODU, FIU to AAC
Marshall, FAU to the SBC
Charlotte A10/Indy

Then CUSA could return to 10 with NMSU.

Interesting idea for all involved. Marshall could get in the SBC to play App St and GS in a more compact division.

(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.

True but the liklihood is that any pruning will be in CUSA West. It will suck for say a North Texas if the MWC takes UTEP/Rice and the Sunbelt takes USM/UTSA, but the likely end result is that Marshall, ODU, Charlotte, WKU, MTSU, FIU and FAU will still be in CUSA at the end of the day with La Tech and maybe 1 - 3 others.

I think by and large, CUSA has a solid core, but cannot grow on it because of the CUSA Texas schools. It is very easy to see CUSA becoming the eastern based conference of the G5 like the MAC is the midwest based conference.

(09-10-2021 01:02 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 01:00 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Like Government agencies, conferences are extremely difficult to kill

Exactly.

In any event, CUSA has 14 members. They could lose four and still not need to backfill, and anyone who thinks they will lose more than four is living in a fantasyland. Hell, they're so bloated at 14 they might be happy to have 10 instead.

they could arguably lose up to 6 teams.

They could arguably hold their conference basketball tournament in Brazil, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that, either.

(09-10-2021 01:00 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Like Government agencies, conferences are extremely difficult to kill

Exactly.

In any event, CUSA has 14 members. They could lose four and still not need to backfill, and anyone who thinks they will lose more than four is living in a fantasyland. Hell, they're so bloated at 14 they might be happy to have 10 instead.

Even if it loses 6, it’ll still have 8 members which equals more CFP money for those that stay behind. The AAC and MWC would do the raiding (especially the AAC) but not the Sun Belt.

(09-10-2021 01:09 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  How would this play out?

ODU, FIU to AAC
Marshall, FAU to the SBC
Charlotte A10/Indy

Then CUSA could return to 10 with NMSU.

Interesting idea for all involved. Marshall could get in the SBC to play App St and GS in a more compact division.

I’m not sure where the other teams are but I don’t think FAU wants back in nor do the SBC want FAU back. Especially without a reasonable travel partner.

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

(09-10-2021 01:00 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Like Government agencies, conferences are extremely difficult to kill

Exactly.

In any event, CUSA has 14 members. They could lose four and still not need to backfill, and anyone who thinks they will lose more than four is living in a fantasyland. Hell, they're so bloated at 14 they might be happy to have 10 instead.

Even if it loses 6, it’ll still have 8 members which equals more CFP money for those that stay behind. The AAC and MWC would do the raiding (especially the AAC) but not the Sun Belt.

All 4 of the other G5 conference could divide up CUSA.

(09-10-2021 01:12 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 01:09 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  How would this play out?

ODU, FIU to AAC
Marshall, FAU to the SBC
Charlotte A10/Indy

Then CUSA could return to 10 with NMSU.

Interesting idea for all involved. Marshall could get in the SBC to play App St and GS in a more compact division.

I’m not sure where the other teams are but I don’t think FAU wants back in nor do the SBC want FAU back. Especially without a reasonable travel partner.

This is predicated on the AAC taking FIU and taking away their travel partner.

The AAC probably won't want 3 schools in Florida so that would leave FAU as a free agent.

(09-10-2021 12:42 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  Hearing that CUSA is about to take hits.....multiple hits.......not only from the American but also from the Sunbelt. Sounds like those two are working together and it will be interesting to see how CUSA adjusts. The "Eastern" football conference that some has been hoping for is currently on the back burner but things will be moving quick. CUSA is in a very tough spot now.

ESPN hard at work.

It's an interesting strategy and makes me wonder if the MAC is involved, too, since it's also an "ESPN" conference. The only C-USA schools that would likely interest the MAC are Marshall, ODU, WKU and MTSU.

C-USA schools in Texas (UTEP, UNT and UTSA) could also be of interest to the MWC, especially if CSU (or Boise St.) has an invite in waiting to the Big XII.

Yes, it's possible C-USA could be completely carved up by the other four G-5 conferences.

(09-10-2021 01:13 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

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

(09-10-2021 01:00 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Like Government agencies, conferences are extremely difficult to kill

Exactly.

In any event, CUSA has 14 members. They could lose four and still not need to backfill, and anyone who thinks they will lose more than four is living in a fantasyland. Hell, they're so bloated at 14 they might be happy to have 10 instead.

Even if it loses 6, it’ll still have 8 members which equals more CFP money for those that stay behind. The AAC and MWC would do the raiding (especially the AAC) but not the Sun Belt.

All 4 of the other G5 conference could divide up CUSA.

The AAC and MWC for sure.

The MAC and Sun Belt? Nope. Those mid week games are a big turn off. No thanks.

(09-10-2021 01:16 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:42 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  Hearing that CUSA is about to take hits.....multiple hits.......not only from the American but also from the Sunbelt. Sounds like those two are working together and it will be interesting to see how CUSA adjusts. The "Eastern" football conference that some has been hoping for is currently on the back burner but things will be moving quick. CUSA is in a very tough spot now.

ESPN hard at work.

Makes me think once the AAC and Sun Belt are done (maybe even MWC), the MAC could go for the killing blow if they find value in WKU and MTSU.

(09-10-2021 01:00 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Like Government agencies, conferences are extremely difficult to kill

Exactly.

In any event, CUSA has 14 members. They could lose four and still not need to backfill, and anyone who thinks they will lose more than four is living in a fantasyland. Hell, they're so bloated at 14 they might be happy to have 10 instead.

The issue is how much overlap is there between the teams the SBC wants from CUSA versus who the AAC would pick from CUSA.

If the AAC takes UAB and 2 of the other large-market teams and the Sun Belt takes USM and Marshall right there they're down 5 teams.