(03-31-2022 06:39 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote: (Snip)
It can't be understated that the AAC has much better exposure and recruiting geography than any other G5 conference. In essence, it's not really a fair fight. Being able to offer Texas and Florida athletes superior television exposure (and the ability to play often in front of their families) will keep allowing the AAC to edge the MWC/MAC/Belt/CUSA. The AAC also has the superior conference brand name from dominating that NY6 position for so long.
The thing is, though, the "AAC" hasn't been dominating in recent years, its top teams have.
E.g., in the last four seasons, 2018-2021, four seasons in which an AAC team got the Access/CFP spot every year, the AAC finished as the top overall G5 conference in the CFP only twice, with the MW finishing first twice as well. And in reality it was probably MW 2, AAC 1, SBC 1, because the SBC probably had the best 2020 year, the computers just don't reflect it because of incomplete data. The AAC probably hasn't been the best G5 conference since 2019.
So it hasn't really been the "deep strength" of the AAC, the bedrock systemic advantages of exposure, TV money, and recruiting that you point to, that have made the difference, as those things have not added up to being a dominant conference. What has mattered is that the AAC has produced the top teams, the undefeated teams in UCF and Cincy.
And heck, that could be a product of *lack* of internal strength, as it is easier to go unbeaten against softer competition rather than tougher competition. There seems to have been a big drop-off between the top AAC team, the unbeaten Cincy/UCF type teams, and the next batch.
So lopping off the top of the AAC, as the Big 12 did, could mean there's nobody below to replace those super-teams.