With geography clearly no longer a consideration for college conferences - Is it time for the best of the AAC and the MWC to seriously consider merging into a 16-20 team conference and try to hang on to a shred of viability?

MWC wont support this for the same reason AAC didnt support it last time. They want to go to a gutted Pac 12 conference and get away from bottom feeders such as San Jose State and Nevada. Exact same reason why AAC teams left for a gutted Big 12 to get away from bottom feeders like Tulane and Tulsa.

(07-01-2022 01:06 PM)Red Dragon Coog Wrote:  MWC wont support this for the same reason AAC didnt support it last time. They want to go to a gutted Pac 12 conference and get away from bottom feeders such as San Jose State and Nevada. Exact same reason why AAC teams left for a gutted Big 12 to get away from bottom feeders like Tulane and Tulsa.

You’re going to get me in trouble here, but I agree with you on this.

Probably a waste of energy until the P2/5 are done doing whatever the hell they’re going to do.

(07-01-2022 01:09 PM)Browning Hall Wrote:  Probably a waste of energy until the P2/5 are done doing whatever the hell they’re going to do.

Maybe but sitting around doing nothing is a sure fire loser. Memphis is further away from a seat at the big boy table than it has ever been. If the administration doesn't reposition the school then it really is over.

(07-01-2022 01:06 PM)Red Dragon Coog Wrote:  MWC wont support this for the same reason AAC didnt support it last time. They want to go to a gutted Pac 12 conference and get away from bottom feeders such as San Jose State and Nevada. Exact same reason why AAC teams left for a gutted Big 12 to get away from bottom feeders like Tulane and Tulsa.

Yeah, and those who can't get away are doomed to be drug down the toilet to the level of the bottom feeders.......

(07-01-2022 01:20 PM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(07-01-2022 01:06 PM)Red Dragon Coog Wrote:  MWC wont support this for the same reason AAC didnt support it last time. They want to go to a gutted Pac 12 conference and get away from bottom feeders such as San Jose State and Nevada. Exact same reason why AAC teams left for a gutted Big 12 to get away from bottom feeders like Tulane and Tulsa.

Yeah, and those who can't get away are doomed to be drug down the toilet to the level of the bottom feeders.......

if you dont get into the b10 or sec, you are a bottom feeder

look at the difference in payout

I think our best hope is to land at the level of the hyena. Not exactly an apex predator but not something that's laughable.

(07-01-2022 01:45 PM)Unionman76 Wrote:  

(07-01-2022 01:20 PM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(07-01-2022 01:06 PM)Red Dragon Coog Wrote:  MWC wont support this for the same reason AAC didnt support it last time. They want to go to a gutted Pac 12 conference and get away from bottom feeders such as San Jose State and Nevada. Exact same reason why AAC teams left for a gutted Big 12 to get away from bottom feeders like Tulane and Tulsa.

Yeah, and those who can't get away are doomed to be drug down the toilet to the level of the bottom feeders.......

if you dont get into the b10 or sec, you are a bottom feeder

look at the difference in payout

There will be the B10 and SEC at the top of the food chain.

Then there will be a middle level that shakes out as whatever the B12 / ACC / PAC12 become. May just end up with 2 conferences there instead of 3 but - these schools will be tier 2 after the B10 and SEC are through gutting them then they will turn around and merge / gut the AAC / MWC. (What is now FBS will become three tiers instead of P5 / G5.)

The third tier will be what's left of the G5 after the B12 / ACC / PAC12 are done gutting them and it won't be pretty or profitable. I think you'll see some shrinkage among the tier 3 left behinds with a few dropping football and / or dropping down to what is now FCS. This third tier is not where Memphis wants to end up - these will be the bottom feeders.

If the TX/OK orphans merge with the USC/UCLA orphans then the best thing left is a Best of The Rest conference between the AAC and MWC.

A core of USF, Navy, SMU, Memphis, Boise, Colorado St. Air Force and SDSU surrounded by Tulane, Fresno, ECU, Temple would hold the line for a bit.

Seems reasonable especially in a scenario where the B12 closes shop and sets its brand new members adrift. If that were to happen and you add UCF, Houston, and/or the Bearcats back - then you have a pretty strong conference.

(07-01-2022 01:49 PM)Tigers2B1 Wrote:  I think our best hope is to land at the level of the hyena. Not exactly an apex predator but not something that's laughable.

I see what you did there.

(07-01-2022 02:12 PM)RockyMTNTiger Wrote:  If the TX/OK orphans merge with the USC/UCLA orphans then the best thing left is a Best of The Rest conference between the AAC and MWC.

A core of USF, Navy, SMU, Memphis, Boise, Colorado St. Air Force and SDSU surrounded by Tulane, Fresno, ECU, Temple would hold the line for a bit.

Seems reasonable especially in a scenario where the B12 closes shop and sets its brand new members adrift. If that were to happen and you add UCF, Houston, and/or the Bearcats back - then you have a pretty strong conference.

If you believe what you read then the orphaning isn't over. ACC is next.

(07-01-2022 02:12 PM)RockyMTNTiger Wrote:  If the TX/OK orphans merge with the USC/UCLA orphans then the best thing left is a Best of The Rest conference between the AAC and MWC.

A core of USF, Navy, SMU, Memphis, Boise, Colorado St. Air Force and SDSU surrounded by Tulane, Fresno, ECU, Temple would hold the line for a bit.

Seems reasonable especially in a scenario where the B12 closes shop and sets its brand new members adrift. If that were to happen and you add UCF, Houston, and/or the Bearcats back - then you have a pretty strong conference.

The gap between this and even Tier 2 (whatever becomes of ACC / B12 / PAC12) and this mash up will be immense and almost every good player they get will get bought and transfer up to a bigger, better NIL$$$$$$$$$ deal. Best players gone every season.....

This level will be a farce and how much fun will it be to lose almost all your best players every single year?

(07-01-2022 12:42 PM)bluebacker Wrote:  With geography clearly no longer a consideration for college conferences - Is it time for the best of the AAC and the MWC to seriously consider merging into a 16-20 team conference and try to hang on to a shred of viability?

No I think that geography will become even more of a factor with those schools remaining in the AAC and Mountain West. They'll have less money to spend and so travel will become a factor

If I were to predict I'm thinking one or three more Pac-12 school and Notre Dame to the Big Ten. The SEC grabs a few more from the ACC maybe North Carolina Virginia Florida State Clemson. Two super conferences and the rest of us line up geographically in conferences to save money build rivalries and create interest.

(07-01-2022 02:37 PM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(07-01-2022 02:12 PM)RockyMTNTiger Wrote:  If the TX/OK orphans merge with the USC/UCLA orphans then the best thing left is a Best of The Rest conference between the AAC and MWC.

A core of USF, Navy, SMU, Memphis, Boise, Colorado St. Air Force and SDSU surrounded by Tulane, Fresno, ECU, Temple would hold the line for a bit.

Seems reasonable especially in a scenario where the B12 closes shop and sets its brand new members adrift. If that were to happen and you add UCF, Houston, and/or the Bearcats back - then you have a pretty strong conference.

The gap between this and even Tier 2 (whatever becomes of ACC / B12 / PAC12) and this mash up will be immense and almost every good player they get will get bought and transfer up to a bigger, better NIL$$$$$$$$$ deal. Best players gone every season.....

This level will be a farce and how much fun will it be to lose almost all your best players every single year?

It will have to be more than 64 teams, it will have to be at least 72. As long as the 3rd conference is allowed to compete in the playoff, it will all work out.

(07-01-2022 02:37 PM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(07-01-2022 02:12 PM)RockyMTNTiger Wrote:  If the TX/OK orphans merge with the USC/UCLA orphans then the best thing left is a Best of The Rest conference between the AAC and MWC.

A core of USF, Navy, SMU, Memphis, Boise, Colorado St. Air Force and SDSU surrounded by Tulane, Fresno, ECU, Temple would hold the line for a bit.

Seems reasonable especially in a scenario where the B12 closes shop and sets its brand new members adrift. If that were to happen and you add UCF, Houston, and/or the Bearcats back - then you have a pretty strong conference.

The gap between this and even Tier 2 (whatever becomes of ACC / B12 / PAC12) and this mash up will be immense and almost every good player they get will get bought and transfer up to a bigger, better NIL$$$$$$$$$ deal. Best players gone every season.....

This level will be a farce and how much fun will it be to lose almost all your best players every single year?

At some point you have to consider retreating to the highest ground available.

(07-01-2022 12:42 PM)bluebacker Wrote:  With geography clearly no longer a consideration for college conferences - Is it time for the best of the AAC and the MWC to seriously consider merging into a 16-20 team conference and try to hang on to a shred of viability?

What good would that do without a tv contract?

The better schools in the AAC and MWC are praying for a better deal. Until this shakes out, I just don’t see what this merger brings. More teams, but some very average football.

If we in fact get left out of this, this may be a path to maintain a somewhat decent conference. Maybe the best of the third tier?

I’m still hoping for a better situation…

(07-01-2022 06:37 PM)memtiger1987 Wrote:  The better schools in the AAC and MWC are praying for a better deal. Until this shakes out, I just don’t see what this merger brings. More teams, but some very average football.

If we in fact get left out of this, this may be a path to maintain a somewhat decent conference. Maybe the best of the third tier?

I’m still hoping for a better situation…

Sure, and I don't expect the Tier 3 schools / conferences to do anything unitil the Tier 1 and Tier 2 conferences have taken what they want. Then left behinds will have to try to form a best of the rest conference or just throw in the towel and quit wasting time and money chasing a mirage.