[LuFlame14]

Here is my first post on any board and I'm surprised it hasn't been added here. Hope the link works. UTEP and Rice rumored to the WAC
http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/writer/ ... -expansion

[Sly Fox]

Welcome to the board, LuFlame14!

The Rice fans I have heard from are enthusiastic about anything that gets them away from CUSA. Most would prefer AAC but are happy to head back to old rivalries if this works out.

[LuFlame14]

Thank you for the welcome. I hope this trickles down to us as when and if they leave the sun belt or MAC will be raised for replacements thus giving us the opportunity to move up. Their meetings are sometime next week I believe and isn't the sun belt supposed to be soon also?

[Sly Fox]

I wouldn't look for much action from any league until the spring meetings. The winter meetings rarely produce much of note.

[Cider Jim]

Here is my first post on any board and I'm surprised it hasn't been added here. Hope the link works. UTEP and Rice rumored to the WAC
http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/writer/ ... -expansion

The Marshall fans are pretty upset about this but think that if this happens that C-USA might go after some Sun Belt schools like Appy State or Georgia State. Personally, I'd love to see Liberty join the C-USA and be in the same conference as the Herd.

Another link:
http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... -utep-rice

[Purple Haize]

Here is my first post on any board and I'm surprised it hasn't been added here. Hope the link works. UTEP and Rice rumored to the WAC
http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/writer/ ... -expansion

The Marshall fans are pretty upset about this but think that if this happens that C-USA might go after some Sun Belt schools like Appy State or Georgia State. Personally, I'd love to see Liberty join the C-USA and be in the same conference as the Herd.

Another link:
http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... -utep-rice

JMU wouldn't mind a seat in C-USA

[ATrain]

Here is my first post on any board and I'm surprised it hasn't been added here. Hope the link works. UTEP and Rice rumored to the WAC
http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/writer/ ... -expansion

The Marshall fans are pretty upset about this but think that if this happens that C-USA might go after some Sun Belt schools like Appy State or Georgia State. Personally, I'd love to see Liberty join the C-USA and be in the same conference as the Herd.

Another link:
http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... -utep-rice

JMU wouldn't mind a seat in C-USA

Arkansas State wouldn't mind a seat either. They'd likely try to add at least one member east of Dallas/San Antonio but west of the Mississippi if Rice and UTEP left.

[TIMSCAR20]

Spending time in this league around administrators and coaches, the unscientific opinion is that the Western part of CUSA would be better served to find a new home. Not that they hate those teams in Texas but I think they in general would rather be more east of the Mississippi oriented in terms of geography. I had a few people tell me this weekend in Louisiana that Liberty's name is on CUSA's list of teams that would be strongly considered.

I think that sentiment has changed in 12 months. I didn't think CUSA other than ODU would really seriously consider Liberty as a possible member but it seems more and more are coming around to that thought. Personally I hope it happens.

I have been of the opinion that the Sunbelt would not be a good fit for Liberty. I would LOVE if Liberty got into CUSA!

[thepostman]

I would love C-USA. I don't see it happening but I would love to be wrong.

[Sly Fox]

I believe most agree that UTEP leaving would probably be a relief for most in CUSA. In fact, I have heard it mentioned that the league might be willing to waive their exit fee if it helped them move along. There is not anywhere near as strong of an interest for Rice to go anywhere. It would significantly impact the next round of TV negotiations for the league losing the Houston media market.

If something happens that the Big XII surprisingly decides to add UH and another school then Rice becomes a no brainer for AAC. But that is not worth the wait for Owls fans. Getting back to old rivalries from their WAC past makes sense in the interim.

[Chris Lang]

I just find it sort of comical that the WAC essentially broke up because it got too bloated, birthing the Mountain West. Now the MWC could potentially be two teams away from being the old WAC again. Things happen in cycles, it seems.

[LuFlame14]

I think that it could go like this, Arkansas State and Appy state to CUSA. That would open up two spots in sun belt so they could potentially have their championship game. JMU could be thrown in there as well as us. But I see sun belt looking to keep 12 and offer JMU, us, Jacksonville State and another school for them to choose two out of those. I hope I'm wrong and hope we get CUSA because we would be a better fit there than sun belt. I almost think sun belt would be a step down from big south but obviously it is "a step up" in terms of FCS to FBS but I am ready to see what happens and hope it involves us getting an invite somewhere.

[Purple Haize]

JMU will not accept any invite from the Sun Belt

[Sly Fox]

I just find it sort of comical that the WAC essentially broke up because it got too bloated, birthing the Mountain West. Now the MWC could potentially be two teams away from being the old WAC again. Things happen in cycles, it seems.

.

Different world of TV revenue between now & then. But teams better hurry up and score deals while ESPN is still rolling in the cable subs. The latter is quickly fading away.

[VAGolf]

I have been of the opinion that the Sunbelt would not be a good fit for Liberty. I would LOVE if Liberty got into CUSA!

Yes, this. I used to be of the view that any FBS conference would be an upgrade but I personally don't view the SunBelt as a big step up from the Big South. The C-USA is a great fit on both ends...we need to become best friends with ODU.

[Sly Fox]

The MWC came out after their meetings today stating that they had no plans to expand. So that speculation can be set aside for a few months.

[flamesfilmguy]

even if they did it won't affect us. if CUSA loses 2 they will still be at 12 with UAB coming back. We aren't going anywhere for a long time.

[rmiller1959]

The Big Ten’s amendment is calling for little change in the current structure. It wants championship games to be between two members that are divisional champions.

The Big 12 is not eager for divisions with 10 teams and the conference membership has been resistant to expansion.

"We don't want to play two five-team divisions then have the potential of everyone else has the two best teams in one division," Bowlsby said. "We don't think we ought to be forced into that sort of thing."

With the Big 10 throwing cold water on the deregulation hopes of the Big 12, that may well be the next conference to watch regarding expansion.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr- ... 24302.html

[ATrain]

The Big Ten’s amendment is calling for little change in the current structure. It wants championship games to be between two members that are divisional champions.

The Big 12 is not eager for divisions with 10 teams and the conference membership has been resistant to expansion.

"We don't want to play two five-team divisions then have the potential of everyone else has the two best teams in one division," Bowlsby said. "We don't think we ought to be forced into that sort of thing."

With the Big 10 throwing cold water on the deregulation hopes of the Big 12, that may well be the next conference to watch regarding expansion.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr- ... 24302.html

Considering that Oklahoma got into the CFP this year, I doubt the Big 12 is eager to expand right this second.

[Sly Fox]

A 1-loss Oklahoma or Texas will always be in the mix. The only concern for the Big XII is if their top team is not one of the those two schools. That is what killed them last year and nearly did in 2015 had Bedlam not been decided the way it was.

[bluejacket]

Getting lucky that there wasn't a 1-loss PAC12 team shouldn't give the Big12 much comfort. If it does, they are even more foolish than I thought.

Exactly. Of course they've been expecting to get a conference championship game on their terms when anyone with a brain knew that they would not.

[bluejacket]

A 1-loss Oklahoma or Texas will always be in the mix. The only concern for the Big XII is if their top team is not one of the those two schools. That is what killed them last year and nearly did in 2015 had Bedlam not been decided the way it was.

Wait and see. If the PAC-12 champion or Notre Dame had one loss this season, they would have been out.

[Sly Fox]

On the other hand, if not for an admittedly freak Saturday in the Cotton Bowl two months ago you could have the Sooners number one overall.

[FlameFanInCarolina]

I think the committee will penalize the Big 12 every year until they get a conference championship game. IMO that is why they dropped Oklahoma a spot in the last week this year. Additionally, the committee will show more grace to Texas and Oklahoma, not just because of their reputation, but because they play someone of note outside the conference. With Art Briles arrogantly telling the committee they have to put Baylor in if they are undefeated and he can play whoever he wants, the egos are too big for that not to be a factor that continues to hurt the Big 12.

[ballcoach15]

I wish NCAA would eliminate conference championship games.

If committee had their way, the same teams would be in hunt for playoff every year:

Okalhoma, Texas, Southern Cal, Stanford, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State


I think NCAA should treat every team equally, regardless of conference or past history.