Topic: Big 12 nearing consensus on 4 schools

[MUsince96]

https://twitter.com/slmandel/status/1433457445699874820?s=21

BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston.

[Flat Tire 2]

Losing OU and UT and picking up BYU' UH; UCF and UC doesn't bode well for that conference?

[MUsince96]

Losing OU and UT and picking up BYU' UH; UCF and UC doesn't bode well for that conference?

Still top 5.

[Big City]

Losing OU and UT and picking up BYU' UH; UCF and UC doesn't bode well for that conference?

Those four schools fit well in that conference with schools like WVU and TCU. Makes sense to me to target a UC, UCF etc as back fill. OU and Texas belong in the SEC.

[Flat Tire 2]

Still top 5.

True, but they have drop down on the food chain in college football.

[Garbanjo]

True, but they have drop down on the food chain in college football.

Big 12 is finished as a major player in FBS

Best of the G5 conferences for foreseeable future

[herd2win]

Count on UAB to be gone to the AAC for sure.  Watching their game last night the announcers mentioned them moving on multiple times based on the new stadium and strong in football and basketball.

[chris88]

Without those 4 schools the AAC is CUSA retrofit. Even more reason to get with ECU, Appy and others and form regional alignment.

[banker]

I really, really hope that some folks use their heads and put together a conference that is good football out of the Belt, CUSA and AAC remnants.  There's a 12 team conference in there that could be good for Marshall and make geographic sense.  I hope there aren't just 3-4 teams that blindly hop into the AAC when we have a great opportunity to make something better.

Tulsa and SMU need to be moved out of the AAC.  Throw them in with the CUSA Texas schools along with Arkansas State and the Louisiana trio. That gives you a southwest conference all on the other side of the Mississippi River.  They can take New Mexico if they want in a conference.

Then you take the Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi schools and put them together.

That leaves:

Marshall
Memphis
WKU
MTSU
Navy
ECU
App State
ODU
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina
Temple
UMass

That's a good football and basketball conference IMO.

[parshall2marshall]

We will fit well with remaining AAC members. P6 baby !!!!

"Marshall will not be left behind." - p2m

[puma]

It's crazy to think that the Sunbelt might be the best G5 conference when it's all said and done.

[luvherd]

Marshall has some MAJOR negotiations and decisions to make. These moves are expensive and need to be based on long term outcome.  My gut says try to form a new conference. I would not be surprised if the P4 (w/o the Big 12) move into their own division.

[herd2win]

At this point I would prefer a regional conference.  Wasn?t big time but I really enjoyed being in the Southern Conference.  There are only about 6 schools that matter now in football so why not build regional rivalries and places fans can travel.

I loved the road trips in college going to Southern Conference schools.  Could always tie in golf and a trip to the beach.

[goherd24]

They take those 3 from the AAC, we gotta be a shoe in to move on yp out of this dumpster fire.

[MUsince96]

They take those 3 from the AAC, we gotta be a shoe in to move on yp out of this dumpster fire.

I want to say the same but man I?ll be holding my breath until they announce it.

[herdorbust]

At this point I would prefer a regional conference.  Wasn?t big time but I really enjoyed being in the Southern Conference.  There are only about 6 schools that matter now in football so why not build regional rivalries and places fans can travel.

I loved the road trips in college going to Southern Conference schools.  Could always tie in golf and a trip to the beach.

I agree. I would much rather see a regional conference than the left over AAC.

[GreenDaddy]

Even if the AAC loses all three of those schools we would still be left with Temple, Navy, USF, Memphis, and ECU. Think about that and then compare with our current slate of WKU, MTSU, Charlotte, FIU, and FAU. It is not even close. If the AAC calls, then we will find the money to make the move.

[GreenDaddy]

I agree. I would much rather see a regional conference than the left over AAC.

No way dude, think about basketball. Being in the same league with those schools I mentioned above and possibly UAB and ODU too moving with us.

[MUsince96]

Depending on who the AAC adds it could end up being fairly regional for us.

[herdorbust]

No way dude, think about basketball. Being in the same league with those schools I mentioned above and possibly UAB and ODU too moving with us.

I?m just giving you my opinion.

[coalherd]

Marshall has some MAJOR negotiations and decisions to make. These moves are expensive and need to be based on long term outcome.  My gut says try to form a new conference. I would not be surprised if the P4 (w/o the Big 12) move into their own division.

MU may be up the creek without a paddle depending on how quick all these changes happen.  Not ideal right now that we have a lame duck President for the next 9 months and an interim Athletic Director for probably even longer.  No strong "leadership" to take charge, IMO.  Board of Governors essentially "rudderless", certainly no guidance or assistance can be expected from State Government and officials in Charleston.  Bad time to be lead by people who either don't have the necessary clout and can't or won't use what clout they do have.

[Huffnagel]

If the AAC loses 3, then they need 4 to get back to 12. Would love to see Marshall, Appy State, UAB and a team to be named later added to the AAC!

[chris88]

I really, really hope that some folks use their heads and put together a conference that is good football out of the Belt, CUSA and AAC remnants.  There's a 12 team conference in there that could be good for Marshall and make geographic sense.  I hope there aren't just 3-4 teams that blindly hop into the AAC when we have a great opportunity to make something better.

Tulsa and SMU need to be moved out of the AAC.  Throw them in with the CUSA Texas schools along with Arkansas State and the Louisiana trio. That gives you a southwest conference all on the other side of the Mississippi River.  They can take New Mexico if they want in a conference.

Then you take the Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi schools and put them together.

That leaves:

Marshall
Memphis
WKU
MTSU
Navy
ECU
App State
ODU
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina
Temple
UMass

That's a good football and basketball conference IMO.

Throw out Temple and Umass and add in Liberty and JMU and you've got yourself a deal imo. If we are trying to save money on travel and form rivalries, Umass has no business being included.  JMU's overall athletic program is already better and much closer. Liberty is on rise and in footprint as well. Temple same thing. Noboby wants to play in Philly in winter.  Temple is 500+ miles from Hton and 8.5 hrs.  Umass is 750 miles and 12 hrs. Both those schools way better off in A10.

[elginherd]

They take those 3 from the AAC, we gotta be a shoe in to move on yp out of this dumpster fire.

Nope.
I wish that was true.
-Our formally solid FB tradtion is just that, formally solid.
-BB, in the pits from Huckabee until DD. And with DD, we haven't exactly got over the hump yet as much as I enjoy watching his teams.
-Huntington is not a great destination for conference visiting teams' fans. This not a reflection on our fans, but a reflection on this area's tourist appeal...and that would be huge considering the now decades long decreasing state support of MU. Marshall is malnourished funds-wise.
-This area is not exactly a hotbed for FB & BB talent.

[sardistim]

If the AAC loses 3, then they need 4 to get back to 12. Would love to see Marshall, Appy State, UAB and a team to be named later added to the AAC!

We should all keep in mind there is no magic in the number 12.  Conferences can have championship football games with less than 12 schools.  The only reason to keep adding teams is if school #11 and school #12 bring more relative value.  So, for instance, if a 10 school conference can get a TV contract for $10 million, and the next two schools are only going to bring the TV dollars to $11 million, then the original 10 will be losing money on an annual basis.  The entrance fee money will help, but long term is that what you want?

One of CUSA's mistakes was to add too many schools.  The Big 12 was smart staying at 10.

All that is to say IF the Big 12 does add 4 teams, still a big IF, the AAC won't necessarily replace all the schools they lose.

It all goes to the value $$$$$$ that the conferences believe each potential school brings.