What's next in college football realignment? A common sense plan to bond Group of 5

[Coach Andy Mac]

With the addition of Cincinnati, BYU, UCF and Houston to the Big 12 essentially all close to being completed, the buzz this weekend came from what could be next for the AAC, Mountain West, Conference USA, MAC and Sun Belt.

The typical food chain reaction would have the American Athletic Conference add a few teams, deciding whether to attempt to poach the Mountain West or pluck a few members from Conference USA. Then the trickle-down would go from there.

But there’s an increasing buzz among athletic directors throughout the Group of Five that the next wave of realignment should focus on common sense instead of more poaching. By chasing TV dollars, many schools have alienated fans through non-sensible league affiliation with teams that fans don’t care about.

Do the leaders in college athletics have enough vision and smarts to build a more sensible and tenable Group of Five for the future? We’ll have a chance to find out.

“We really should hit pause before we start poaching each other’s teams and explore what this would look like if we started over today,” said an athletic director in the Group of Five. “TV has made it obvious they’re only paying for the big brands moving forward. If there’s a way to cut our travel costs by millions, let our student-athletes spend more time in class and sell more tickets because fans actually know the teams, know alums from the universities and can travel to games, we should at least spend a few weeks to discuss the thought that maybe there’s a better solution.”

read more:  https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-aside-college-football-appears-bunched-together-and-that-should-invite-common-sense-conference-realignment-202704848.html

[TheColonyEagle]

That’s logical and makes a lot of sense 

 

 

 

That’s why it will never happen 

[El Paso Eagle]

The reason this will never happen is in the title - common sense

[Jonnyeagle]

Interesting to think that SMU will be the only AAC team in Texas once Houston leaves and whatnot.  Sort of puts them on and island and increases their travel costs.

[El Paso Eagle]

  On 9/8/2021 at 1:21 AM, Jonnyeagle said:

Interesting to think that SMU will be the only AAC team in Texas once Houston leaves and whatnot.  Sort of puts them on and island and increases their travel costs.

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I think they will add another Texas team - Rice or UTSA

[UNT Mean Green]

This is an outstanding plan that makes a ton of sense for all involved. Furthermore, it would make sense to have playoffs for every level (P5, G5, FCS, D2, D3) so that the G5 member schools have a realistic shot at playing for a championship. It would basically be like the Texas High School playoff system. As Wren has said time and time again, geography needs to play a role, and hopefully some common sense will prevail through this realignment process.

[untcampbell]

I see 3-4 teams in the Southwest (League) Conference that won't think it is a good idea. Logic needs to replace emotion and/or elitism.

Let's combine to find the best ways to be relevant and to continue to exist.

GMG

[El Paso Eagle]

  On 9/8/2021 at 5:17 PM, untcampbell said:

I see 3-4 teams in the Southwest (League) Conference that won't think it is a good idea. Logic needs to replace emotion and/or elitism.

Let's combine to find the best ways to be relevant and to continue to exist.

GMG

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Maybe it's time for these teams to go Independent 

[TheColonyEagle]

  On 9/8/2021 at 6:20 PM, El Paso Eagle said:

Maybe it's time for these teams to go Independent 

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Agree....I'm sure SMU is the main one, but they don't have any leverage.

They need to be told: "Go to the Big 12 if they'll take you (they won't) or go indy"

Pretty simple

[El Paso Eagle]

  On 9/8/2021 at 6:24 PM, TheColonyEagle said:

Agree....I'm sure SMU is the main one, but they don't have any leverage.

They need to be told: "Go to the Big 12 if they'll take you (they won't) or go indy"

Pretty simple

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An even bigger joke than SMU's mindset is UTEP's - All you hear out here is how NMSU is not good enough to be in a conference with them. It's always good for a laugh. 

[untjim1995]

  On 9/8/2021 at 6:37 PM, El Paso Eagle said:

An even bigger joke than SMU's mindset is UTEP's - All you hear out here is how NMSU is not good enough to be in a conference with them. It's always good for a laugh. 

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La Tech does the exact same thing to ULM

[TheColonyEagle]

  On 9/8/2021 at 6:37 PM, El Paso Eagle said:

An even bigger joke than SMU's mindset is UTEP's - All you hear out here is how NMSU is not good enough to be in a conference with them. It's always good for a laugh. 

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The moves by the SEC and now Big 12 were the last straw with me...I've changed myself. Texas State...come on in. La Tech is going to have to change on La Monroe, SMU on us, I'm sure UAB on Troy, Probably USF on FAU, UTEP on NMSU, Memphis on Ark St., etc.

[Jonnyeagle]

Tulane has been very snobby as well.

[TheColonyEagle]

I could absolutely get behind this.

Southwest League (16)

Division 1
Tulsa
SMU
North Texas
UTSA
Texas State
Rice
Arkansas State
Memphis

Division 2

Louisiana Tech
Louisiana
Louisiana-Monroe
Tulane
UAB
Southern Miss
Troy
South Alabama

 

7 division games, 2 crossovers, 3 OOC? Conf championship game followed by a playoff? I'm in. Looks like 4 "leagues" champ from each one in playoff to start. I think that would get attention.

Edited September 8, 2021 by TheColonyEagle

[untjim1995]

  On 9/8/2021 at 6:48 PM, TheColonyEagle said:

I could absolutely get behind this.

Southwest League (16)

Division 1
Tulsa
SMU
North Texas
UTSA
Texas State
Rice
Arkansas State
Memphis

Division 2

Louisiana Tech
Louisiana
Louisiana-Monroe
Tulane
UAB
Southern Miss
Troy
South Alabama

 

7 division games, 2 crossovers, 3 OOC? Conf championship game followed by a playoff? I'm in. Looks like 4 "leagues" champ from each one in playoff to start. I think that would get attention.

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This would be a dream come true...

[El Paso Eagle]

Here's a thought. If your speaking to someone who is a fan of a G5 school and they are complaining about the problems with the P5, etc. - As them if they support regionalized G5 conferences. If they say no, walk away and tell them to stop complaining. 

[greenminer]

Lots of pleas for logic here, but do we know what they [league officials] actually want?

[El Paso Eagle]

  On 9/8/2021 at 6:48 PM, TheColonyEagle said:

I could absolutely get behind this.

Southwest League (16)

Division 1
Tulsa
SMU
North Texas
UTSA
Texas State
Rice
Arkansas State
Memphis

Division 2

Louisiana Tech
Louisiana
Louisiana-Monroe
Tulane
UAB
Southern Miss
Troy
South Alabama

 

7 division games, 2 crossovers, 3 OOC? Conf championship game followed by a playoff? I'm in. Looks like 4 "leagues" champ from each one in playoff to start. I think that would get attention.

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Since SMU and La Tech are the ones who would most likely complain - swap them out with each other and lets keep moving.

[GrayEagle]

  On 9/8/2021 at 7:05 PM, greenminer said:

Lots of pleas for logic here, but do we know what they [league officials] actually want?

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Everyone's has several that they like and they have to take one for the league that they don't like.  Everyone can't be totally satisfied.

[southsideguy]

Just tell SMUT that they can leave when the big boys call... they will be waiting a long time.

[UNT86]

It would work except for some schools seeing themselves as "above" others.  La Tech would never be in a conference with La Monroe.  Same for New Mexico agreeing to be in a conference with New Mexico State.  SMU would rather cancel the program than join the conference suggested.

There is also the whole public vs private schools problem.  Many private schools maintain an attitude of superiority and would refuse to be in a conference with public/state schools.

It looks great on paper, but it will NEVER happen.

 

[C Rod]

This just dropped an hour ago on Sports Illustrated:

https://www.si.com/college/2021/09/08/big-12-expansion-aac-mike-aresco-reaction

  Quote

Though Aresco declined to reveal potential new members, the top options are likely to start with UAB, a rising power in the G5 located in the heart of the Deep South. Football success is an important piece to any new additions, as well as fan support and school resources. Several others may fit that mold, including Air Force, Army, Colorado State, Boise State, North Texas, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina and Arkansas State.

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[Cougar King]

A regional alignment for the G5 schools makes perfect sense. Theres no reason for absurd travel costs with little profit. Make leagues that fans can travel to and where regional rivalries can flourish. The MAC has the right idea as far as a G5 regional league goes.

[Salsa_Verde]

  On 9/8/2021 at 11:57 PM, C Rod said:

This just dropped an hour ago on Sports Illustrated:

https://www.si.com/college/2021/09/08/big-12-expansion-aac-mike-aresco-reaction

 

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I’m going to make it into another post. Seems worthy of its own discussion 

[97and03]

Can we just have a separate realignment forum?