Conference Realingment

[Warthog]

The MAC has been fairly isolated from all the changes in the conference landscape. But I'm thinking that will be changing soon. With the SEC, ACC, Big 10, PAC 12 all expanding, other conferences (Big 12, Big East) keep reaching down and sucking teams up to new conferences.

Now it has trickled down to C-USA. With Houston, SMU and Central Florida moving on to the Big East, along with Boise St and San Diego St, C-USA is going to be looking for teams to add. And the Moutain West is losing a lot also. Where is this headed?

Seems to me that it makes a lot of sense for the Mtn West and WAC to join up again and form one conference, kicking LA Tech out as they don't fit geographically and if I have all the moves correct, that would leave them with 12 teams. Of course I think LA Tech may be wanting out of there anyway and C-USA seems like a logical place for them to be.

That would get C-USA back up to 10 teams, but I'm betting they want 12. So, who might be two other teams they would want to add? Sunbelt teams fit in geographically, but C-USA might look to expand their footprint. A couple MAC schools might be just what they are looking for. Toledo? Northern Illinois? Ohio? I'm curious about what others think might happen yet.

[Falcon137]

Didn't CUSA and the MWC just sign the deal to play the mega conference championship? I don't see the need for those conferences to add anyone if they are going to take the 2 teams from the conferences and play each other. It's not like they need 12 to get to 2 divisions for a football championship game.

[Warthog]

Yep, they did. But I don't see how that will hold up now with so many of the teams leaving. Boise State was the big chip in that deal and they are joing the BE for football. The MW will have only 5 football members. And that announcement stated they would form a 22 team conference, but there were 12 teams in C-USA and 9 in the MW. Who were the other two schools that were to be involved?

[BGFalconfromCincy]

I just don't think any of the all sports MAC members get taken if things continue to trickle, CUSA was in this area before, all the schools left, and they have been doing well with their current one, and with many attractive potential members in their own footprint I don't think they will expand it (if it was a BCS conference I could see them expanding it though). I've done a lot of research on this topic for my sport and higher ed graduate class this semester, and no MAC seems ever seem to be mentioned. Temple and UMass though, different story with the football only status, CUSA could stay at 10 (I think LA Tech joins eventually) and then add those two for football only to keep their title game

[Warthog]

Temple and UMass though, different story with the football only status, CUSA could stay at 10 (I think LA Tech joins eventually) and then add those two for football only to keep their title game

But that would leave the MAC with only 10 teams and thus no football championship game. Would the MAC want to stay at 12? Who would be schools that could join the MAC, if it came to that?

[Globetrotter]

Temple and UMass though, different story with the football only status, CUSA could stay at 10 (I think LA Tech joins eventually) and then add those two for football only to keep their title game

But that would leave the MAC with only 10 teams and thus no football championship game. Would the MAC want to stay at 12? Who would be schools that could join the MAC, if it came to that?

MAC has 14 teams with Umass and Temple.

[Warthog]

Sorry, cant keep all this straight. My bad.

[Globetrotter]

Sorry, cant keep all this straight. My bad.

No worries, though, I think you made an interesting point. I am glad we are over 12 so that we can still have that game should guys get plucked. I would have loved or would love for us to try to get W Kentucky and M Tennessee and/or Appalachian St, Illinois St etc.

Also what is that mega conference champion thing you guys are talking about? Seems like something that it would be cool for us to get into. However it might just solidify us as an also ran.

[Globetrotter]

Looked up the mega conference. Seems interesting especially now that some of those teams are leaving. Here is what is left.

Marshall
ECU
UAB
Southern Miss
Memphis
Tulane
Rice
UTEP
Tulsa
Fresno St
Nevada
Hawaii
UNLV
Wyoming
Colorado St
New Mexico

Any chance we can nab some of the eastern schools that don't want to go so far west? East Carolina and Marshall might be quality additions. 16 teams sounds good to me.

[footballguy51]

Looked up the mega conference. Seems interesting especially now that some of those teams are leaving. Here is what is left.

Marshall
ECU
UAB
Southern Miss
Memphis
Tulane
Rice
UTEP
Tulsa
Fresno St
Nevada
Hawaii
UNLV
Wyoming
Colorado St
New Mexico

Any chance we can nab some of the eastern schools that don't want to go so far west? East Carolina and Marshall might be quality additions. 16 teams sounds good to me.

They can keep Marshall. I would take ECU and Memphis, but it would have to be for all sports.

[Falcon137]

I could see Conference USA making a run at Temple....Temple wants out of MAC football and they have an excellent basketball program that CUSA could pair with Memphis to make a decent basketball league.

[Globetrotter]

Looked up the mega conference. Seems interesting especially now that some of those teams are leaving. Here is what is left.

Marshall
ECU
UAB
Southern Miss
Memphis
Tulane
Rice
UTEP
Tulsa
Fresno St
Nevada
Hawaii
UNLV
Wyoming
Colorado St
New Mexico

Any chance we can nab some of the eastern schools that don't want to go so far west? East Carolina and Marshall might be quality additions. 16 teams sounds good to me.

They can keep Marshall. I would take ECU and Memphis, but it would have to be for all sports.

Would obviously love memphis as well but I doubt they come down. I think they are on the cusp of the Big EAST, ACC, SEC.

The main point that I wanted to make is that as these guys reshuffle we should be thinking progressively and not reactively. I am all but certain we will think reactively and end up with an even smaller league as some of our teams from larger markets get plucked away.

[1987alum]

I could see Conference USA making a run at Temple....Temple wants out of MAC football and they have an excellent basketball program that CUSA could pair with Memphis to make a decent basketball league.

Temple & C-USA did the dance before the Owls joined the MAC for football.

C-USA's offer was simple - all sports or nothing. Temple wanted football only. Neither side would budge and, well, the rest is history.

The dynamics on both sides have changed, so it might be a much different conversation this time.