Would you consider the AAC a "cusp conference"?

[JesseMartin]

I didn't want to make this a poll, because I don't think it's an easy answer. But here are my reasons for asking:

1. The American Airlines Association of Americans Conference was born from the ashes of the Big East. The BE's members were largely absorbed by other conferences, so the AAC was mostly comprised of up-and-comers from G5 conferences who were likely being considered in a major conference anyway. However, so many longstanding members left that it ended up looking like a "Power 5 in waiting" conference. So they could succeed together and become a power conference again, or...

2. Each member is on the cusp of an invitation to another conference. Well, maybe not all, but when you look at both basketball and football, you can make a case for most of them pretty easily. So my point is that it could be considered something of a stepping stone between G5 and P5, or the conference as a whole is kind of between the two.

Weren't they still P5 their first year anyway? I just don't know what to think about their future. They tend to have rankings of top teams in FB around the same level as the Big 12. There's always talk of their members and/or coaches being pilfered by bigger conferences. They basically come off as a P5 conference in every way but that of being well-established enough.

Sooo...win and be considered a big boy conference, or win and have each team taken by a big boy conference? Either way...don't they seem like they're sort of in between the 2 levels of FBS conferences?

[emmitt01]

The cusp of FCS

[JesseMartin]

5 minutes ago, emmitt01 said:

The cusp of FCS

If we base it on NDSU...yeah...they would beat most AAC (and probably most FBS) teams on any given weekend over the past few years. I was thinking about that, too...I wonder how long that goes on before the FCS begs the FBS to take them....

[PRAK]

They've proven themselves in both basketball and now football. Yeah they're the middle ground conference. Only a fool would say otherwise. 

[GreenFlag]

They are easily above the other G5's. 

[greenb.o.g.]

No

[RushnStudies]

2 hours ago, JesseMartin said:

.The American Airlines Association of Americans Conference

I legit belly laughed upon reading that.

[Ben Gooding]

No. 

[Got5onIt]

I don't think so, but I think public perception says otherwise.