its just history repeating itself but with less room and desire for expansion up top with the P4.

B12 is the new BE, AAC is CUSA, which ultimately will lead to an expanded MAC (with NE programs probably like Temple, UMass, UConn, Stony Brook) once the AAC talent base is further diluted during the next round of B12 expansion and a merged CUSA + SBC.

(09-10-2021 01:22 PM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  

(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.

Especially if Buffalo ends up in the AAC. One of WKU/MT or both plus JMU.

(09-10-2021 01:10 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(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.

lol. thats true, but you yourself used the word could first. so let me give you a reasonable example.
AAC - adds Rice, UAB, ODU and GSU - 3 of those are from CUSA.
Sun Belt- adds UTSA, USM, and Marshall - 3 more from CUSA.

(09-10-2021 12:56 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(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

Waves in WAC

(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.

One thing those two leagues have that CUSA doesn't, ESPN's backing.

(09-10-2021 01:15 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(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.

Other way around....no one wants FIU.

(09-10-2021 01:22 PM)EigenEagle 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.

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.

Everyone seems to forget that the AAC was already looking for a team before this (and covid) happened. They are currently still playing on a waver if I'm not mistaken. That means that they add 2 to get to 10 or add 4 to get to 12. Adding 3 doesn't make sense.

(09-10-2021 01:25 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  Especially if Buffalo ends up in the AAC.

I've been sitting here hoping no one in the AAC remembers Buffalo's existence.

I'm a underdog kinda guy...... Really want to see New Mexico State and UMASS get into a all sports Conference !!!.... And Seattle get into WCC !!!......WCC should have taken Seattle years ago when Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City.

(09-10-2021 02:03 PM)ACC1953! Wrote:  I'm a underdog kinda guy...... Really want to see New Mexico State and UMASS get into a all sports Conference !!!.... And Seattle get into WCC !!!......WCC should have taken Seattle years ago when Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City.

UMASS could get into an all sports conference if they actually wanted to, just not the one they want to. They don't think it's worth leaving the A10 to join any league lower than the AAC, and I don't even really disagree with their logic on it.

(09-10-2021 02:03 PM)ACC1953! Wrote:  I'm a underdog kinda guy...... Really want to see New Mexico State and UMASS get into a all sports Conference !!!.... And Seattle get into WCC !!!......WCC should have taken Seattle years ago when Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City.

First I have heard someone correlate conference expansion to NBA relocation. Well done

SEC is all in on SEC and facilitates the two best B12 going to SEC by paying Texas to kill LHN.

It’s not unthinkable that ESPN would like to see better CUSA properties transferred from the CBSSN contracted CUSA to AAC and Sun Belt and maybe even MAC in the case of WKU and MTSU

And I will leave this last little bit of info I've heard....Marshall, ODU and App State.....the three of those have been talking together as a group. Not saying they are "tied at the hip" but I can say that the three of them are pretty close and have similar goals and aspirations. And keep in mind....with the American losing Cinci, Houston and UCF...the American is in somewhat of a precarious situation. The Sunbelt is producing some top 25 schools in recent years so there is a lot at stake for the American with who they add. Of they dont add the correct schools, the American could end up getting surpassed in football by the Sunbelt. Who would have ever thought that just 5-6 years ago?

(09-10-2021 02:05 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 02:03 PM)ACC1953! Wrote:  I'm a underdog kinda guy...... Really want to see New Mexico State and UMASS get into a all sports Conference !!!.... And Seattle get into WCC !!!......WCC should have taken Seattle years ago when Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City.

UMASS could get into an all sports conference if they actually wanted to, just not the one they want to. They don't think it's worth leaving the A10 to join any league lower than the AAC, and I don't even really disagree with their logic on it.

Yeah seems like UMass could be in the MAC tomorrow if they expressed interest.

The remaining 4 non-power conferences could work together to dismantle CUSA - not that they would or should - and end up with 4 14-school conferences.

MWC + UTEP, UTSA
AAC + Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Old Dominion, Rice, Southern Miss, UAB
SBC + Charlotte, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, North Texas
MAC + Middle Tennessee St, Western Kentucky

MWC
Mountain: Air Force, Colorado St, New Mexico, Utah St, UTEP, UTSA, Wyoming
West: Boise St, Fresno St, Hawaii*, Nevada, San Diego St, San Jose St, UNLV
* Football-only

AAC
East: East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Florida, Temple, UAB
West: Memphis, Navy*, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa
* Football-only
^ Non-football: Wichita St

SBC
East: Appalachian St, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Florida International, Georgia Southern, Georgia St, Troy
West: Arkansas St, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, South Alabama, Texas St, UL Lafayette, UL Monroe
^ Non-football: Arkansas - Little Rock, Texas - Arlington

MAC
East: Akron, Bowling Green St, Buffalo, Kent St, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo
West: Ball St, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Middle Tennessee St, Northern Illinois, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan

If Gonzaga wanted Seattle in the WCC, they'd have gotten in over Pacific.

(09-10-2021 02:05 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 02:03 PM)ACC1953! Wrote:  I'm a underdog kinda guy...... Really want to see New Mexico State and UMASS get into a all sports Conference !!!.... And Seattle get into WCC !!!......WCC should have taken Seattle years ago when Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City.

UMASS could get into an all sports conference if they actually wanted to, just not the one they want to. They don't think it's worth leaving the A10 to join any league lower than the AAC, and I don't even really disagree with their logic on it.

Correct. They played FB in the MAC on a four-year agreement and the terms were at the end of four years, they had to join the MAC for all sports or leave.

UMass chose to leave.

(09-10-2021 02:50 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  The remaining 4 non-power conferences could work together to dismantle CUSA - not that they would or should - and end up with 4 14-school conferences.

MWC + UTEP, UTSA
AAC + Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Old Dominion, Rice, Southern Miss, UAB
SBC + Charlotte, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, North Texas
MAC + Middle Tennessee St, Western Kentucky

MWC
Mountain: Air Force, Colorado St, New Mexico, Utah St, UTEP, UTSA, Wyoming
West: Boise St, Fresno St, Hawaii*, Nevada, San Diego St, San Jose St, UNLV
* Football-only

AAC
East: East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Florida, Temple, UAB
West: Memphis, Navy*, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa
* Football-only
^ Non-football: Wichita St

SBC
East: Appalachian St, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Florida International, Georgia Southern, Georgia St, Troy
West: Arkansas St, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, South Alabama, Texas St, UL Lafayette, UL Monroe
^ Non-football: Arkansas - Little Rock, Texas - Arlington

MAC
East: Akron, Bowling Green St, Buffalo, Kent St, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo
West: Ball St, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Middle Tennessee St, Northern Illinois, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan

well done!

the only change i would make would be flipping charlotte and marshall

(09-10-2021 02:48 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 02:05 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 02:03 PM)ACC1953! Wrote:  I'm a underdog kinda guy...... Really want to see New Mexico State and UMASS get into a all sports Conference !!!.... And Seattle get into WCC !!!......WCC should have taken Seattle years ago when Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City.

UMASS could get into an all sports conference if they actually wanted to, just not the one they want to. They don't think it's worth leaving the A10 to join any league lower than the AAC, and I don't even really disagree with their logic on it.

Yeah seems like UMass could be in the MAC tomorrow if they expressed interest.

They'd have never gotten booted from the MAC had they been willing to join all sports.

(09-10-2021 02:52 PM)JSchmack Wrote:  If Gonzaga wanted Seattle in the WCC, they'd have gotten in over Pacific.

Seattle had just rejoined Division I after spending life in NAIA and Division II for over 30 years. I would doubt anyone in the WCC, including Gonzaga, would've wanted them at that time.