I heard today that if things go as planned, in the next week or so Marshall will be making the official announcement that they will be entering the Sunbelt in July of 2022 instead of 2023. It's expected that Southern Miss and ODU will as well. Looking forward to joining our new conference mates to help build something special and get out of that dumpster fire (CUSA) for good.

You heard correct.

Terrific news!!

how will scheduling be? each team plays the other 6 in their division plus 2 from the other division? if so, how will that work with an odd number of teams before JMU gets here? or with Marshall, Southern Miss, and ODU be "officially unofficial" until the conference is fully filled out?

(12-30-2021 05:41 AM)Dirty Myrtle Wrote:  how will scheduling be? each team plays the other 6 in their division plus 2 from the other division? if so, how will that work with an odd number of teams before JMU gets here? or with Marshall, Southern Miss, and ODU be "officially unofficial" until the conference is fully filled out?

Based on other reports, JMU will play a full 8-game SBC slate in 2022 as well. So 14 for next year.

Here’s hoping!

Can’t wait to see it happen!

the JMU part is still contingent on getting NCAA approval to jump to year 2 of transition

most of us can't have them count against as an FCS since we already have an FCS on the schedule

(12-30-2021 12:29 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  I heard today that if things go as planned, in the next week or so Marshall will be making the official announcement that they will be entering the Sunbelt in July of 2022 instead of 2023. It's expected that Southern Miss and ODU will as well. Looking forward to joining our new conference mates to help build something special and get out of that dumpster fire (CUSA) for good.

You aren’t helping build something special, you’re joining something special.

Heck yeah. Lame-duck conference scheduling is so 2012.

(12-30-2021 09:31 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(12-30-2021 12:29 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  I heard today that if things go as planned, in the next week or so Marshall will be making the official announcement that they will be entering the Sunbelt in July of 2022 instead of 2023. It's expected that Southern Miss and ODU will as well. Looking forward to joining our new conference mates to help build something special and get out of that dumpster fire (CUSA) for good.

You aren’t helping build something special, you’re joining something special.

Agree about joining something already special. However, I think what he meant was that all of us newbies need to do our part to help elevate it. The Sun Belt did not add us for kicks and giggles. You all should and have every right to expect results out of us. Here’s to hoping we all deliver and solidify the Sun Belt as the BEST G5 year in and year out.

I honestly would like to see us market ourselves as a SEC-light. Embrace it, let ESPN market it, and let the good times flow.

USM to the Fun Belt:

(12-30-2021 12:29 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  I heard today that if things go as planned, in the next week or so Marshall will be making the official announcement that they will be entering the Sunbelt in July of 2022 instead of 2023. It's expected that Southern Miss and ODU will as well. Looking forward to joining our new conference mates to help build something special and get out of that dumpster fire (CUSA) for good.

Welcome! Can't wait you have you guys over.

FUD YEAH!!! Lets get this partay started!!!!

Sunbelt Beast vs Sunbelt Best.

stAte, Troy, Tex St, S. Alabama, S Miss., ULM and Louisiana. The Best the Sunbelt has to offer. Yall tip toe across that line, we will punch you in the mouth!

Z

JMU can’t jump to year 2 unless the NCAA wants to really really stretch the reading of the Division I Manual.

But they can bless counting them as if FBS for our schedule purposes.

Making JMU full FBS before the 2024 season would require some real kindness from the NCAA

(12-30-2021 12:29 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  I heard today that if things go as planned, in the next week or so Marshall will be making the official announcement that they will be entering the Sunbelt in July of 2022 instead of 2023. It's expected that Southern Miss and ODU will as well. Looking forward to joining our new conference mates to help build something special and get out of that dumpster fire (CUSA) for good.

(12-30-2021 10:54 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  JMU can’t jump to year 2 unless the NCAA wants to really really stretch the reading of the Division I Manual.

But they can bless counting them as if FBS for our schedule purposes.

Making JMU full FBS before the 2024 season would require some real kindness from the NCAA

The NCAA doesn't really have a reason to do it but I don't see why they wouldn't also just do it. They have the extra scholarship players, facilities already in place, etc. It's a dumb rule that a team can't automatically be bowl eligible in season 1 anyway.

Let’s get it, boyz!

Teams will play the 6 other teams in their division plus a home/road from the other.

For example, Arkansas State would play everyone in the West and an East team at home and an East team on the road.

We should schedule 7 cross-division games for week 0 to jump start the season before everyone else gets going.