I would be excited at joining the Sun Belt at this point
Who Does CUSA Add?
- Thread starter JCorona
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Praying for Pac 12 to steal 2 MWC teams at some point so we can get out of what will be a pretty sad little FBS conference. I don't hate that Sam Houston St. will probably be added and then have to wait a couple years to be full fledged FBS Football. I know a Tarleton St. Alum here in DFW who thinks that Tarleton St. will sale out every game if they go FBS and have Big Money donors to make this team pull out all the stops. I'm not as sure as he is of course, Meh...
It’s possible. Not right away. The SBC has some good programs. Just really depends on who is going to step up in the AAC and how long Memphis and SMU stick around.
Depends on who is in those 8 teams and what monetary issues happen to the department because of it. Unless basketball gets better, it doesn’t really matter.
It's quite possible. I think the top of the AAC might still be superior right now, but top to bottom the SBC is likely going to be a better conference long term.
What I do know is that the regional games in the SBC are much more appealing as a fan than CUSA 2.0 that is the AAC.
If all is this is about football money then it doesn't matter.
And that’s what the SBC is betting on. Games that fans can travel to easier and cutting travel costs.
As a one bid conference, the fewer the teams, the better the chances of advancing.
NMSU is a solid hoops program, and were so even before the WAC became a shell of itself, but they definitely thrived on being in a smaller conference of weaker teams. In the last decade they made more NCAA appearances than they have at any other time in their existence despite being a worse team than those of the late 60/70's and early 90's.
Tell you one thing, that West Texas bball trip is going to be hell for our conference mates...whoever they are.
No doubt. I already feel bad for the OOC teams that schedule games against both schools when they swing down here.
Now it's official as Marshall and SB send out official tweets.
https://www.espn.com/college-footba...nference-usa-exodus-continues-sources-confirm
https://www.espn.com/college-footba...nference-usa-exodus-continues-sources-confirm
Same as UCONN exploring CUSA....
This is a few hours old and is already outdated.
www.cbssports.com
This is a few hours old and is already outdated.
Conference USA looking to add three or four teams in expansion with Marshall deciding to join Sun Belt
Down to five members, Conference USA must decide how many schools to add
www.cbssports.com
Woof. No bueno. I'll believe it when I see it considering how quiet the MAC has been, but anything can happen.
There are still some options on the table but at this point you almost wonder if it's just better to merge La Tech and UTEP into the WAC for Oly sports, form a scheduling alliance in football with the 3 remaining schools, and wait for the FCS WAC schools to move on up.
If ESPN offers the MAC more money to add them then they will. Otherwise those two programs will still be there in 2026 when it's time for the MAC to negotiate a new TV deal.
The WAC is a 13 team league, not much room left. Not a lot of options left. Even if you add UTA and UALR, CUSA is still one school short of being a D1 conference and keeping their autobid. Not to mention, they wouldn’t even be compliant and would need waivers. They wouldn’t be able to sponsor baseball or men’s soccer because UTEP doesn’t have it.
CUSA’s only shot at survival, hinges on the MAC not expanding with WKU and MTSU. Even then, they would need FIU. Who is probably looking for a home for their olympic sports. At least I would be.
Wanting to see the Miners play top level teams is a bad thing? Interesting.
WAC would without a doubt welcome UTEP with open arms without batting an eye. I can't seem them saying no to to La Tech either since they aren't too far from the TX schools. Chi St is also leaving next season.
That's would make a 14 team conference with two 7 team divisions, pretty convenient for Oly sports. With the aspirations to eventually become an FBS conference again, you have 3 teams ready to roll on day one, and likely a few more of the Texas schools already eager to roll now.
I get what you’re saying and I’d personally welcome the series. I just don’t think he wants to see the Miners, especially the women, get annihilated year after year.
That’s not the case though. They are swapping Chi St for Southern Utah next season, so adding UTEP and LaTech, brings them to 15. Not ideal for a 1 bid league.
Also if you split the divisions, UTEP could go either way. You would have LaTech, Lamar, ACU, SFA, SHSU, Tarleton, and UTRGV. The other half would be Seattle, Cal Baptist, Southern Utah, Dixie St, Utah Valley, Grand Canyon, and NMSU. Not great. Either UTEP is in a division with Western teams and NMSU or it’s in with Texas teams and not NMSU. The WAC would probably only take 1 and UTEP would probably be with the Texas schools.
If the MAC follows through with this, then that's the definition of kicking a man or woman when he/ she's down. Judy McCleod must've done something to piss these conference commissioners off! They sure don't have any love for her at all, Sheesh! She's way over her head it seems. Should MAC follow through, not sure what Uteps next play should be honestly at this point.
I've been saying it all along, ESPN. MAC/SB/AAC all under contract with ESPN. Weird how they don't touch each other.
UTEP, NMSU, La Tech, FIU.
UTEP, NMSU, La Tech, FIU. That is the nucleus of CUSA 2.0. Add the four best FCS football programs and go from there.
UTEP, NMSU, La Tech, FIU. That is the nucleus of CUSA 2.0. Add the four best FCS football programs and go from there.
I think you’d want UTEP and NMSU in the same division so visiting teams play both on one swing.
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Yes they thought they were going to either the AAC or MW 🤣 At least we've known all along no one wants us.
You have. What started out as me thinking about mailing you a tin foil hat to go along with your conspiracy theory, has morphed into me wanting to mail you funding so that you can take your, in-my-eyes now credible theory, and expose ESPN for the dirty bastards they appear to be.
It will actually be CUSA 4.0 but yeah, add the best that are willing and able. The CUSA is more valuable than the WAC since CUSA is signed on with the cfp for distribution. The conference received $17M this past year from that alone. Throw in the exit fees from 9 or 11 schools and CUSA 4.0 can get off to a decent start.
Damn shame that the mwc isn't an espn property. They would have grabbed us by now.
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