Conference realignment again????

[ULvictory]

I'm not sure if the new AAC members like UAB would abruptly leave since they just became members of that conference. Plus, I am not sure about the legalities of just joining a conference and then leaving suddenly. It would be interesting to see who would be the addition to the Sun Belt West if Texas State were to leave, but I also think we would have limited options.

Ideally, we would love to entertain the thought of programs like Memphis and SMU, but they are both waiting for that phone call from a P5. And I don't think the Sun Belt would be their ideal choice. One school that I think would geographically would be a decent fit that no one has really mentioned would be Tulsa. They're in Southern Oklahoma, and I think they're a name that people are familiar with. I would see some issues with them (small private school and no baseball team) that the conference would have to discuss, but the only other option out west that I see is maybe an FCS call-up like Missouri State.

I feel like Louisiana Tech, WKU, and MT have publicly burned bridges with the Sun Belt that may cause havoc if they were entertained to join. I could be wrong, but it will be an interesting list of options to bring into the western division.

[CajunEXPRESS]

That would be terribly dissapointing but it might open up an opportunity for the SBC West to become even more regionally specific. My first thought would be for the SBC to put all of their eggs in the UAB basket, but that might not even be something UAB would entertain considering they just had the opportunity to move to the AAC, which they feel is a better conference today then the SBC.

That would then open up the dreaded conversation that no one on this site wants to discuss and that is either FCS callups, or CUSA friends who pizzed in our Cheerios including the most dreaded of all conversations.....The Bulldog Killers. Their is no doubt that UAB would be the most advantageous partner but when you start going down the list of potential replacements for Texas State that opens up names most of us don't want to speak about.

Sam Houston
La Tech
Middle
McNeese
Western Kentucky
Jacksonvile State

The other option would be to add another team to the EAST, heaven forbid a Liberty and then move someone from the East to the West.

I for one, would rather Texas State stay in the SBC rather than move to the MWC, but I do see how they would be a player in that conversation, it just depends on how many teams the MWC look to add. I do think they would be in the top couple of teams the MWC would consider, so if they go deeper than 1, then I think for sure they would be in the mix.

Maybe my geography is off, but TxSt into the MWC doesn’t make much sense for them without a lot more Texas schools. They’re best suited for AAC, but not likely happening.

[RaginDave]

Maybe my geography is off, but TxSt into the MWC doesn’t make much sense for them without a lot more Texas schools. They’re best suited for AAC, but not likely happening.

I was responding to what Jay stated, that Texas State would be a player in the MWC if they were looking to expand. Geographically it would not make a ton of sense, but San Marcos is a growing town and it is strategically located between San Antonio and Austin, to of the fastest growing cities in America. Stranger #*$% has happened.

[CajunNation]

There are way too many moving parts between the BIG10/PAC10/BIG12/MWC to predict what will happen. I've given up doing that. However, if BOP is hinting at Texas State leaving, planning for that departure is reasonable.

I refer you to my wish list of future additions:

UTSA/SMU/Tulane/Memphis/Liberty/East Carolina/South Florida

If none of these accept an invite, then we do NOTHING. We should only be adding schools that CLEARLY advance our goal of top G5. We've played unbalanced before. Until a good option becomes available, we can do it again.

[CajunVic]

. . . as one reads this thread it becomes readily apparent that nobody here knows much about this subject matter . . .

[CajunEXPRESS]

. . . as one reads this thread it becomes readily apparent that nobody here knows much about this subject matter . . .

It seems it’s fluid as hot oil and everyone is guessing. Granted SEC, Big10 are the twin locomotives.

[RaginDave]

There are way too many moving parts between the BIG10/PAC10/BIG12/MWC to predict what will happen. I've given up doing that. However, if BOP is hinting at Texas State leaving, planning for that departure is reasonable.

I refer you to my wish list of future additions:

UTSA/SMU/Tulane/Memphis/Liberty/East Carolina/South Florida

If none of these accept an invite, then we do NOTHING. We should only be adding schools that CLEARLY advance our goal of top G5. We've played unbalanced before. Until a good option becomes available, we can do it again.

If Texas State would happen to leave, we will do something, I don't think the SBC would stay at 13. Of the guys you listed, I think only Liberty would be a viable option. SMU is highly likely going to get an invite from a P5 conference if movement happens. UTSA, Tulane, Memphis, ECU and USF would rather stay where they are and hope for that they would be next on the list for a P5 offer. Liberty wanted the SBC before and clearly would think that the SBC would be a much better conference long term than the CUSA, the question is would the SBC want Liberty. I stick to my guns, that UAB would be the best option for the SBC, but I don't think they would do so for the same above reasons. While we would hate for it to happen, the most logical and most geographical option would be Tech, SHSU or Jacksonville State.

The West would be from Alabama to Louisiana (with Troy, USA, UL, ULM, Tech or CUSA to be named later, Arkansas State and USM.

The East would stay the same from WV to Georgia (with Marshall, ODU, JMU, Coastal, App, Georgia State and Georgia Southern).

Theoretically Tech would replace Texas State athletically in all sports or close to it. Texas State has not been relevant in Football since they joined, Tech while they have struggled would be a better football team right away, Basketball would be a push to me, neither has been great, but both have been good. Baseball would be a push, Tech and Texas State have both had really good runs over the past few years. Other sports would be similar. What you would lose would be a great market in San Marcos, for a ____ty market in Ruston and probably lesser facilities as well. Texas State has some money and fan base behind them, Tech does not offer that. SHSU would be a solid fit as well, but they are an unknown commodity in football as this will be their first season in FBS.

[CajunEXPRESS]

The SBC isn’t taking 3 schools from Louisiana. The East would rather WKU that could swing both ways.

TxSt leaves would open door to elimination of ULM back into 12 team conference. It’s all speculation

[RaginDave]

The SBC isn’t taking 3 schools from Louisiana. The East would rather WKU that could swing both ways.

TxSt leaves would open door to elimination of ULM back into 12 team conference. It’s all speculation

Then I would assume Liberty would be off the table as well, as that would give you 3 schools in Virgina (ODU, JMU and Liberty) and UAB off the table with 3 schools from Alabama (but I think this would be a huge mistake not taking UAB, if they were interested), although I think there would be other reasons for Liberty not to get an invite.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Virginia is a much bigger state than Louisiana. The closest state to Louisiana is Arkansas, but they don’t have nearly as many FBS programs as Louisiana, and less talent. USM is in the sweet spot. 2 mediocre P5 and themselves.

Liberty isn’t wanted regardless of anything else except being Liberty