Big 12 is a fine vision, but our current pace shows that a conference like that isn't in our next 10 year window.
UCF was able to do it because they have a large student body and really rode a groundswell of success based on a handful of exceptional football seasons. Its a rarity for sure.
That said...we are closer than we've ever been.
The PAC will be made up of UTAH, Arizona State, Stanford, Washington, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington State, Arizona and Cal, not a bad core, but I agree with you, the next shoe to drop is what is considered the 4-Corner schools, that would be Utah, Arizona and Arizona State. This will solidify the Big 12 and crucify the PAC. The logical move for the PAC would be to look at SDSU, Boise, Fresno, Colorado State (if they want to replace Colorado) and possibly SMU, but they would be a complete outsider. Regardless, this would be a watered down version of the old PAC and would decimate the MWC, who might just reach out to the western schools in the CUSA and possibly a Texas State or UNT or others in the AAC to stay alive. Regardless this is not over yet. More dominoes will fall.
I really like the position that the SBC is in currently because of the stability of the conference. But that being said, anything is possible right now with conference realignment, but if you would have told me 10 years ago that the Cajuns would be where they are conference wise and with the conference mates they currently have and how strong the SBC is, I would have told you, that you were "CRAZY".
Weird stuff could happen and I know that Keith Gill has stated that the SBC is not interested in expansion, but depending on what happens, his hand could get forced. I do believe the SBC is the most stable G5 conference right now, but anything could change that in a blink of an eye, this is why it is so important that we show the reality of what is happening with the Cajun Field renovation. I drove by the athletic complex the other day and while we still have some upgrades to make for the most part our athletic facilities are strong, but Cajun Field is the ugly duckling amongst the swans.
The reno of the Tigue and the Softball stadium coupled with the upgrade to the track/soccer facility and the indoor practice facility and other upgrades to the athletic complex we are close to being there, but that stadium needs to happen to make us more attractive. That being said, just the small changes we have made to CF over the past few years and it looks a ton better, the closing in of the end zone, the cover on the student side, the new digital scroll board and other upgrades, but man that press box is an eyesore.
Huge difference from a $250M endowment and a $2.05B endowment. Or a Top 50 University to a Top 300 university.
Let’s be real, we missed the boat 50 years ago. When we stayed 1A and everyone else stayed 1AA, we should have poured money into athletics. We didn’t, we did the opposite.
Financially, there are clearly 2 tiers to the P5. You have the Big10 and the SEC and everybody else. If UCF gets a chance to join an East Coast based P5 conference, they will do it. They're alumni/boosters will demand it.
Clemson/Florida St will be SEC members very soon. The ACC will backfill with West Virginia/UCF.
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