ChristopherRyanWilkes

This is actually not worse case scenario. If all of this played out differently, we could have lost a lot more teams, and would have been really reeling. At this point, we are decently positioned. If SMU is the only team that leaves, and the conference is stuck at 13 teams, so be it. It was a little awkward having two DFW teams in the same conference anyways. Best case scenario we either join up in a new "best of G5" conference in the Pac-12, or add Washington State and Oregon State to the AAC. Even though geographically MWC makes more sense for them, we can offer more money. The main deal either way is we need to find ourselves competitive for that token G5 playoff spot by being in the best G5 conference. My fear would be that MWC really pulls away with additions of Oregon State and Washington State as well, but even in that scenario, with teams like Memphis, Navy, Tulane etc. still in tow I think we can still be competitive. Buckle up, now comes the fun part for us.

Congrats SMU. Now for UNT, we really need the AAC to add Washington and Oregon State to keep us competitive for the 5th playoff spot every year. That will be the next domino to fall. We can certainly beat MWC with more money.

Just wait until I get off probation... and hitch a ride from my friend.

If SMU leaves it is bad for UNT. This is what every left behind team in a lesser conference says when a premier program moves up. It’s always bad for the teams left behind.

I think the AAC was probably wrong. Look, I wish geography, time zone, market size, etc. was more important than it is (all that is good for North Texas), but objectively I don’t think it is. I’m happy we are there because it damn sure beats the alternative, but I wouldn’t be convinced they made the right moves as a legacy AAC member either. I guess we’ll have to see.

I re-read this a few times but still don’t get it. You are proving my point I think. CUSA is the league that emphasized geography and the Belt had better programs, but small town locations. The Belt came out on top. Why is geography really valuable if what you said after proves the opposite? If by identity you mean winning football programs, then yes that’s important.

The Big-10 is an objectively better conference than the Pac-12 in football, which is the only thing that really matters if we're honest. The best we can say when comparing the new AAC and MWC is they're maybe even, but I think most would still give the MWC a nod over the new AAC, given they have perennially ranked Boise State and SDSU. AAC doesn't have anyone like that in football anymore. The Pac-12 isn't just lagging the Big 10 in money because of time zones, they also have quality of football issues in recent years. If the MWC continues to outpace the AAC in football quality, they will surpass us in money (if they don't already, can't remember). The CUSA should have proved for most people that geography isn't even close to the top priority when it comes to TV deals.

Whatever happens, I don’t think it will affect us or the AAC. If anything the MWC might widen the gap as the best G5 conference by picking up a few PAC-12 scraps.

This one has trap written all over it. We lose by 500 and forfeit the program afterwards.

And is he single?

Fully expect them to be in the tourney.

If this is any indication, new AAC could be in trouble with playoff committee. Outside of the P5s and soon-to-be P5s, only ranked teams in G5 are both from the MWC (Fresno State and San Diego State). I think most suspected the Mountain West would be elevated to best G5 conference, but this may confirm it.

Great point, this is a surprising fact. This could be a very risky move. I was just lamenting how scheduling is done in college football to a friend. I don’t think SMU, or even UTSA for that matter, will be ranked by season’s end. They came upon a very favorable early schedule. At the end of the day, being ranked mid-season is obviously something we’d be thrilled about, but being ranked at the end of the season is the mark of a truly great G5 team. I wish conference schedulers would balance things more at the beginning of the year. UNT could reasonably win 5 games and not look nearly as bad as our 1-6 start would suggest. Look at the combined record of our opponents vs UTEP’s.

Kind of hard to find numbers but looks like both new FCS adds (SHSU and Jacksonville State) hit the minimum attendance requirement. Always the old mass season ticket purchase trick, too. Wonder who team #8 will be once WKU and MTSU officially leave.

Looks like they are adding Liberty, NMSU, Jacksonville State and SHSU.

Interesting, didn’t know that. Does this mean they would no longer be a FBS football conference if they can’t get to 8 FBS teams without FCS->FBS transition teams?

No way they dissolve, giving up close to $10 mil each in exit fees collection. Independent is not a good option if you’re a G5 with a local following. Army and Liberty can make it work but few others can.

Well, their geography just became clear. They will focus on southern FCS teams I bet, mostly in Texas. None of those FCS teams particularly scare me, save maybe SHSU. My guesses off the top of my head are SHSU, Tarleton, SFA, Jacksonville State, University of North Florida...

You just pointed out SMU’s biggest problem. They claim they don’t want to increase enrollment, in reality they can’t. Don’t have the space.

Bad hires have have a ripple effect. I don’t know how true this is anymore but I’ve heard we don’t have a great reputation with high school coaches. That’s more impactful than we’d like to hope. Your comment on new programs goes to my theory that no reputation is better than a bad reputation. We really need to make a good hire and ride that into the AAC. I tune out in bad seasons and just cherish the good ones. Probably the best way to stay sane.

The remaining CUSA teams can learn from what the Sun Belt did. Stick together and add the best FCS and independent teams you can. It may be a long pay off, but those FCS call ups can become good quick. We’ve seen that time and time again.

Wow, that would be equal to what the new AAC teams will get. Existing AAC teams get $7 mil and MWC teams get $4m each. Looks like a new class of top tier G5 conferences, with MAC and CUSA in the cellar now, each under $1 mil per school right now. Remember those numbers also represent TV exposure. Happy for our former conference mates and us. Feel for the remaining CUSA schools but you have to hustle in this league.

Nice interview Harry and JayD. Lots of interesting tidbits, but the MWC not wanting us anymore because of media deal was solid info. I have to wonder if AAC knew that or not and if we still used MWC as a bargaining chip anyways. All’s well that ends well. Also love that he reaffirmed what I’ve been thinking that MWC and AAC are set for years to come. Good times ahead.

I see some G5-P5 parallels too that could be useful for future scheduling. SEC-SBC, B10-MAC, P12-MWC, AAC-ACC, then those outlier conference in CUSA and B12.

I’ve thought about this too, it does fit nicer than people think. Also, ECU is actually in a pretty big metro. That surprised me too, but it’s a top 20 CSA in the south. To me, the only other weird outlier conference outside CUSA now is the Big 12. Weird mix of plains state flagships and overlap of what AAC’s demographic is, plus BYU. Basically just a medley of outside the top-4 conferences, but still P5, teams.