Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think that 9 teams is the perfect number for a college football conference. Not too big and not too small.

(04-16-2022 03:23 PM)SMUstang Wrote:  Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think that 9 teams is the perfect number for a college football conference. Not too big and not too small.

You are definitely OLD fashion. No doubt about that.

(04-16-2022 03:23 PM)SMUstang Wrote:  Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think that 9 teams is the perfect number for a college football conference. Not too big and not too small.

I don't know that it is the perfect number (makes having a CCG a little awkward), but it is certainly enough teams to be viable. I don't think adding more just for the sake of numbers is helpful at all.

(04-16-2022 03:33 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 03:23 PM)SMUstang Wrote:  Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think that 9 teams is the perfect number for a college football conference. Not too big and not too small.

I don't know that it is the perfect number (makes having a CCG a little awkward), but it is certainly enough teams to be viable. I don't think adding more just for the sake of numbers is helpful at all.

Right now it’s perfect

(04-16-2022 03:43 PM)theATLDawg Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 03:33 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 03:23 PM)SMUstang Wrote:  Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think that 9 teams is the perfect number for a college football conference. Not too big and not too small.

I don't know that it is the perfect number (makes having a CCG a little awkward), but it is certainly enough teams to be viable. I don't think adding more just for the sake of numbers is helpful at all.

Right now it’s perfect

Many good conferences stayed at 9 teams or less.

The Original MWC

United States Air Force Academy
Brigham Young University
Colorado State University
San Diego State University
the University of New Mexico
the University of Nevada
Las Vegas
University of Utah
the University of Wyoming

Later TCU replaced Utah.

The Big East Football Conference always had 8 members (Pre and Post Miami)

(04-16-2022 04:47 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 03:43 PM)theATLDawg Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 03:33 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 03:23 PM)SMUstang Wrote:  Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think that 9 teams is the perfect number for a college football conference. Not too big and not too small.

I don't know that it is the perfect number (makes having a CCG a little awkward), but it is certainly enough teams to be viable. I don't think adding more just for the sake of numbers is helpful at all.

Right now it’s perfect

Many good conferences stayed at 9 teams or less.

The Original MWC

United States Air Force Academy
Brigham Young University
Colorado State University
San Diego State University
the University of New Mexico
the University of Nevada
Las Vegas
University of Utah
the University of Wyoming

Later TCU replaced Utah.

The Big East Football Conference always had 8 members (Pre and Post Miami)

Also the SWC, the ACC, the SBC and the WAC. But unfortunately most didn't stay that small.

(04-16-2022 03:43 PM)theATLDawg Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 03:33 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 03:23 PM)SMUstang Wrote:  Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think that 9 teams is the perfect number for a college football conference. Not too big and not too small.

I don't know that it is the perfect number (makes having a CCG a little awkward), but it is certainly enough teams to be viable. I don't think adding more just for the sake of numbers is helpful at all.

Right now it’s perfect

This.

It is perfect.

This set of teams aren't the perfect other 8 for each other, but the number of teams is just right.

When I'm king of college football, all conferences will probably be forced to cut down to 9 teams.

This will not be my least popular new rule.

(04-16-2022 06:58 PM)inutech Wrote:  This will not be my least popular new rule.

Oh...I almost forgot about the "Tech gets a permanent autobid" rule... hahaha

Just kidding with ya man. 9 is the perfect number for CUSA right now. Let expansion come if it is needed.

I agree that 9 is a good number and I'd be good going to 10 as well if that 10th member can bring something to the table. 14 teams for a G5 conference is too big. 14 teams splits up the much smaller revenue (compared to the P5) pie into too many pieces.

We should give nine teams a couple years at least to see how it works and give the FCS call-ups time to get transitioned. It’s not like EKU and SFA aren’t going to be available in 2025.

I do think 12 should be the max for a G5, one-bid league.

(04-16-2022 07:58 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  I agree that 9 is a good number and I'd be good going to 10 as well if that 10th member can bring something to the table. 14 teams for a G5 conference is too big. 14 teams splits up the much smaller revenue (compared to the P5) pie into too many pieces.

But is isn't necessarily. If ESPN says, "We will pay $1MM per team whether you are 9, 10, 12, 14, or 16 but we have to approve the teams." Would you care? I am seriously asking.

(04-16-2022 08:40 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 07:58 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  I agree that 9 is a good number and I'd be good going to 10 as well if that 10th member can bring something to the table. 14 teams for a G5 conference is too big. 14 teams splits up the much smaller revenue (compared to the P5) pie into too many pieces.

But is isn't necessarily. If ESPN says, "We will pay $1MM per team whether you are 9, 10, 12, 14, or 16 but we have to approve the teams." Would you care? I am seriously asking.

They would need to add something to the league other than numbers in my opinion.

Has the CFP Payout cap been increased? I thought at one time that having over 10 members diluted that number, but maybe that has changed.

Will they significantly contribute in revenue sports? Can they help the league secure the access bid (programs like NDSU fit this bill). Can they help the league secure a 2nd bid to the NCAA (can't think of anyone that would do this that would actually join C-USA)? Can they help the league secure substantially more money from a media deal, not just an even share?

(04-16-2022 10:10 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 08:40 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 07:58 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  I agree that 9 is a good number and I'd be good going to 10 as well if that 10th member can bring something to the table. 14 teams for a G5 conference is too big. 14 teams splits up the much smaller revenue (compared to the P5) pie into too many pieces.

But is isn't necessarily. If ESPN says, "We will pay $1MM per team whether you are 9, 10, 12, 14, or 16 but we have to approve the teams." Would you care? I am seriously asking.

They would need to add something to the league other than numbers in my opinion.

Has the CFP Payout cap been increased? I thought at one time that having over 10 members diluted that number, but maybe that has changed.

Will they significantly contribute in revenue sports? Can they help the league secure the access bid (programs like NDSU fit this bill). Can they help the league secure a 2nd bid to the NCAA (can't think of anyone that would do this that would actually join C-USA)? Can they help the league secure substantially more money from a media deal, not just an even share?

I don’t think this is just a money issue. I look at 14 as an issue in terms of post season selections (all sports). Adding 5 more teams to one bid leagues makes it much harder to get that. Hopefully we become a two big league but for the time being we aren’t. Saint Peters proved anything can happen if you make it in. No need to add more potential road blocks unless they bring other value.

So how is it a conference gets to be a two bid league unless they have more teams who excel.
I think it’s more about excellence than whether their are 9 or 14 schools. Do you consistently have 2 or more teams who’ll win in the tournament or OOC, regardless to whether that is out of 9 or 14.

(04-16-2022 08:40 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 07:58 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  I agree that 9 is a good number and I'd be good going to 10 as well if that 10th member can bring something to the table. 14 teams for a G5 conference is too big. 14 teams splits up the much smaller revenue (compared to the P5) pie into too many pieces.

But is isn't necessarily. If ESPN says, "We will pay $1MM per team whether you are 9, 10, 12, 14, or 16 but we have to approve the teams." Would you care? I am seriously asking.

There is no proof of this?

I have asked repeatedly for an article or release showing the financial terms of the SBC/ESPN deal. There is none, like zero.


ESPN is the business of paying the least amount as possible while filling their inventory of Tuesday and Wednesday nights games with SBC teams.

One thing is certain if ESPN was paying the SBC a 400% increase it would plastered over the internet with articles from hometown papers. But there are none zero.

(04-17-2022 07:52 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  So how is it a conference gets to be a two bid league unless they have more teams who excel.
I think it’s more about excellence than whether their are 9 or 14 schools. Do you consistently have 2 or more teams who’ll win in the tournament or OOC, regardless to whether that is out of 9 or 14.

The bottom teams are what kill the NET. In conference play begins and the NET tanks. It will be hard to get to a two bid league but the path is easier with 9 teams.

(04-16-2022 08:40 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 07:58 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  I agree that 9 is a good number and I'd be good going to 10 as well if that 10th member can bring something to the table. 14 teams for a G5 conference is too big. 14 teams splits up the much smaller revenue (compared to the P5) pie into too many pieces.

But is isn't necessarily. If ESPN says, "We will pay $1MM per team whether you are 9, 10, 12, 14, or 16 but we have to approve the teams." Would you care? I am seriously asking.

That happen with the AAC obviously so the legacy AAC universities could keep their 7 million deal while paying the Metro additions 2 million

But ESPN had nothing to do with the Sunbelt additions, the conference teams decided on who to accept and reject

I just don't see the path for CUSA 4.0 becoming a consistent two bid league without one team running this league like Memphis did CUSA 2.0. If one program can consistently win 25+ games a year(Memphis did every year but one in 2.0 and they went 24-10) then maybe 2 bids is possible, of course any such program would likely lose their coach in short order, if not get poached by the American or Mountain West altogether.

(04-16-2022 07:30 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 06:58 PM)inutech Wrote:  This will not be my least popular new rule.

Oh...I almost forgot about the "Tech gets a permanent autobid" rule... hahaha

Just kidding with ya man. 9 is the perfect number for CUSA right now. Let expansion come if it is needed.

Well, that's a good idea, but even that would go over better than my first decree.

Big schools and small would hate me (at least the ADs would). Because I would enforce a strict 6 home / 6 away football schedule (and something similar for all sports).