Topic: Conference Realignment Line Up 2024

[Big City]

The chaos is not quite over yet, but we have a list of future conferences for those of you keeping score at home. Below is a complete list of what each conference will look like by 2024.

https://www.rollbamaroll.com/platform/amp/2023/8/12/23825984/college-football-conference-realignment-line-up-2024

CUSA looking putrid as ever.

[whf]

https://www.rollbamaroll.com/platform/amp/2023/8/12/23825984/college-football-conference-realignment-line-up-2024

CUSA looking putrid as ever.

AAC looks pretty good, and if the originals don't bolt elsewhere, the move to the AAC by half of C-USA will have been a great boost for these schools IMHO. Still wish we could have, would have been chosen to go, been with them.  But I do like the SBC; have real concerns about it's ability to surpass the AAC in stature and status however.

[wasbarryb]

AAC looks pretty good, and if the originals don't bolt elsewhere, the move to the AAC by half of C-USA will have been a great boost for these schools IMHO. Still wish we could have, would have been chosen to go, been with them.  But I do like the SBC; have real concerns about it's ability to surpass the AAC in stature and status however.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet and

East Carolina
Memphis
South Florida
SMU
Temple
Tulane
Tulsa
Charlotte (new in 2023)
FAU (new in 2023)
North Texas (new in 2023)
Rice (new in 2023)
UAB (new in 2023)
UTSA (new in 2023)

Is still C-USA and stinks the same.   No thanks, we are in a much better conference alignment,

[Herdmeister]

AAC looks pretty good, and if the originals don't bolt elsewhere, the move to the AAC by half of C-USA will have been a great boost for these schools IMHO. Still wish we could have, would have been chosen to go, been with them.  But I do like the SBC; have real concerns about it's ability to surpass the AAC in stature and status however.

I agree with you. The AAC, if they stay as they are, will still be the top G5 league. I, also agree that I like SBC but honestly would much rather be making trips to play Memphis and have their hoops team on the schedule twice a year. Tulane football has made a complete turnaround and are now a top 25 team.

[svherd]

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet and

East Carolina
Memphis
South Florida
SMU
Temple
Tulane
Tulsa
Charlotte (new in 2023)
FAU (new in 2023)
North Texas (new in 2023)
Rice (new in 2023)
UAB (new in 2023)
UTSA (new in 2023)

Is still C-USA and stinks the same.   No thanks, we are in a much better conference alignment,

Yep. Other than ECU, Memphis and SMU. That looks like a hot mess and travel issues. jmho

[svherd]

I agree with you. The AAC, if they stay as they are, will still be the top G5 league. I, also agree that I like SBC but honestly would much rather be making trips to play Memphis and have their hoops team on the schedule twice a year. Tulane football has made a complete turnaround and are now a top 25 team.

But would DD want to go to the AAC? I don't think so. jmo

[MUsince96]

I would have found the new AAC very disappointing had we joined it over the SBC. 

[GreenDaddy]

I agree with you. The AAC, if they stay as they are, will still be the top G5 league. I, also agree that I like SBC but honestly would much rather be making trips to play Memphis and have their hoops team on the schedule twice a year. Tulane football has made a complete turnaround and are now a top 25 team.

I would maybe be inclined to agree with you if the AAC was going to stay intact, but you are not looking 5-10 years down the road. The ACC is a dead man walking and as soon as FSU or Clemson figure out how to leave then schools like USF and Memphis will be gone again. Those schools don't want to be with us, and honestly, they don't want to be with the CUSA6 either. Being in a conference with them long term will just never happen. We would literally be right back in a different version of CUSA after realignment is settled once and for all.

My prediction is still that the SBC will surpass the AAC or whatever is left of it eventually. It may take some time, but we will get there due to the overall cohesiveness of our schools and the upward momentum we seem to have.

[herdfan129]

Agreed that long term, SBC is where it?s at. We are a football school and SBC is a southern based football conference. I?m happy in the SBC.

[muherd34]

AAC looks pretty good, and if the originals don't bolt elsewhere, the move to the AAC by half of C-USA will have been a great boost for these schools IMHO. Still wish we could have, would have been chosen to go, been with them.  But I do like the SBC; have real concerns about it's ability to surpass the AAC in stature and status however.

Maybe it just me, but I prefer the current SBC over the AAC.  Only team in the AAC I would care about playing is ECU, now if UC, UH and UCF stayed that is a different story.  Tulane played great last year, but how long will they stay relevant?  UTSA looks like the most stable football program over the past few seasons.   Sorry, I just do not see the AAC as attractive at the moment.   However, that could change in the future, hopefully the SBC keeps rising and takes over as the best G5 and eventually have the best TV contract.

[bbcard1]

I do think that in the SBC, we have the opportunity to do something no other conference we have ever been in before could do and that is to support each other and build a conference that makes sense with an eye to benefit all members. With the MAC, other member schools were happy with the status quo. In CUSA, everyone was looking for a side door. It seems SBC is looking at growth that makes sense...at a time no other conference seems to be.

[herd2win]

SBC way better and more fun for fans.  I wish ECU was in the SBC but I am excited about our conference and the rivalries.  AAC still has a bunch of teams that I have no interest in. 

[MUther]

I agree with you. The AAC, if they stay as they are, will still be the top G5 league. I, also agree that I like SBC but honestly would much rather be making trips to play Memphis and have their hoops team on the schedule twice a year. Tulane football has made a complete turnaround and are now a top 25 team.

Disagree. Tulane puts together a steamroller about once every other decade and then disappears for the other 19 years.  Maybe they built something and maybe they got lucky, but history is not on their side.  They still lost two last year and one was to middling USM.  Not sold on them at all.

They haven't had double digit winning season since '98 and haven't won more than 7 except one time since then, either, till last year.

[Herdmeister]

But would DD want to go to the AAC? I don't think so. jmo

He would love it.

[svherd]

He would love it.

Interesting. It would be a MUCH tougher b'ball league than what we are in currently.

[MUonium]

i too, felt hurt that we were excluded from, and not in the best position, to receive serious consideration to the AAC. 
i also agree, in hindsight, we probably are in one of the best conference situations/best fits we've ever been in- and potential for MU to grow in some ways, is there. 
however, when i hear talk that App St (only one example) has 'higher' sights set on the future, and the realistic fact that they have a much larger enrollment (= more $?), it causes a flood of emotions.  Ga St the next large enrollment or large media market darling??

we've almost always been the odd man out, but we've definitely not been the only one or had the worst situations to contend with.

i'm not sure con realignments will ever be over, or who/what will govern college athletics in the future.  can MU and MU athletics elevate and sustain to be better positioned and prepared for future changes?  where will MU and it's athletics be in 10, 15, 20 years?

somewhat related, i just reads the H-D article featuring senators J. Manchin and T. Tuberville who have joined to consider legislation concerning NIL, college athletics in relation to higher education in general.  is it a crisis?  natural processes?  other?  bit of all?

[bighat]

I went to an award banquet at Marshall and the President said we were a blue-collar school and that stuck with me.
Marshall fights for everything they get.  We have some of the best fans in the US.

[GreenDaddy]

Here are a couple good articles by Shane Mettlen outlining the success that the SBC is having regarding our media deal. Overall conference viewership was around 35 million last year, or what would amount to be a 100% increase from the previous year. A trend that has been going on for the last 3 years with the SBC.

The conference still has work to do, but ESPN seems pleased with that we are delivering to this point. It's probably why they chose leave the door open to flex our CCG to ABC for the first time ever instead of automatically giving it to the AAC.


https://www.dnronline.com/sun_belt_extra/sun-belt-sees-increased-viewership-on-tv-streaming/article_6602f8b3-995c-5dcb-83e9-b7b1c6c79e89.html


https://www.dnronline.com/sun_belt_extra/mettlen-streaming-numbers-bode-well-for-sun-belts-future/article_b97605b2-c0b2-5268-90d3-53f92869648e.html

[Herdmeister]

Interesting. It would be a MUCH tougher b'ball league than what we are in currently.

and that is why he would want it. Tougher leagues draw better players. That helps recruiting.

[SuperAnjario]

and that is why he would want it. Tougher leagues draw better players. That helps recruiting.

LOLOLOLOLOL

[Flat Tire 2]

Obviously, when you play in stronger league you have to recruit higher quality players. I remember talking to Billy Donovan when MU announced that we were moving to the MAC from the Southern Conference. Billy said "that was not part of the deal" when he accepted the job. The MAC was a much better conference than the SC.

No comment needs to be made on Dan's recruiting. We all know about his recruiting expertise.

[wasbarryb]

Obviously, when you play in stronger league you have to recruit higher quality players. I remember talking to Billy Donovan when MU announced that we were moving to the MAC from the Southern Conference. Billy said "that was not part of the deal" when he accepted the job. The MAC was a much better conference than the SC.

No comment needs to be made on Dan's recruiting. We all know about his recruiting expertise.

Benedict Donivan talking about sticking to a deal.

Now there is an oxymoron if ever I hear one.

[Flat Tire 2]

Benedict Donivan talking about sticking to a deal.

Now there is an oxymoron if ever I hear one.

Goodness, Billy was offered a ton of money and he took it. I don't blame him, I would have taken the offer in heartbeat and I Bleed Green. Moving from MU to the SEC was a unbelievable move for him. Remember MU basketball was not in the same level as football.  MU did make a big change moving to the MAC after they hired him, MU should have been upfront about the possible move to the MAC. Billy had success written all over him and it just a matter of time before he would be hired away. Winning two National Championships proves that point.  I do think that the offer came a lot quicker than anyone anticipated. I do know that a lot UK fans thought he would be the UK coach in a few years. That is the chance MU takes hiring a hot young assistant. I wish there was another option than hiring a Dan/Doc type or the hot young coach who will move on.

My guess is that the MU AD realized that Billy wasn't going to be long for MU and was against the hire. The MU President went over the AD's head and made the hire. The only problem I had with Billy was that he got MU to hire Donnie Jones, but the powers at MU didn't have to made the choice.

[Buffalo Bop]

https://twitter.com/BarstoolMU/status/1692293790172647869?s=20

[MUsince96]

https://twitter.com/BarstoolMU/status/1692293790172647869?s=20

Highly doubt but would be cool.