[TH Spangler]

ODU simply "doesn't move the needle" for football. They are only 1/2 a notch above Longwood and Radford as a NCAA D1 athletic program.

Commuter school. Not sure why the local community hasn't gotten behind them more. When they went FBS I figured they would be drawing 30-40k pretty quickly. I guess there's a reason pro sports always passes on Hampton Roads.

[jimflamesfan]

ODU is not that bad. Sitting out a year really screwed them up. Their fans found other things to do. When we played them in our fbs inaugural game the stadium was packed and they brought their band. Now that they sat out the year they are rebuilding.

As far as CUSA...if MT and West. Kentucky go to the mac...CUSA should become a football only conference. That's probably their only path forward if those two are leaving.

[Sly Fox]

The NCAA does not allow FBS-Only conferences. You can have a few affiliates. But the core membership must be all sports.

Twittersphere is shooting out all types of crazy ideas for the three left behind members. Everything from UTEP & LaTech rebuilding with a slew of WAC schools across Texas and Louisiana to the shell of the league being sold to another conference. Wacky ideas that may become closer to reality.

It appears the WKU fan base is all in on MACtion. The MTSU folks will only be going under duress. It remains possible that this doesn't work out. But every minute seems to indicate it is more likely as long as ESPN is willing to make it financially worthwhile to the existing MAC members.

[TH Spangler]

ASUN has been wanting to start an FBS conf. Maybe this is their chance to partner up. But I don't want to see us pour our money into it.

[Sly Fox]

There have been discussions of mergers with the ASUN & CUSA as well WAC & CUSA. If the former happened it would result in an FCS league until the call-ups were ready for FBS status. We would be Indy either way fro football. Honestly it makes a ton fo sense for FIU to go Indy/ASUN once they get exit fees and tourney credits worked out. I suspect we will have game sin Miami every other year moving forward.

[jimflamesfan]

OK. So there will be 3 leftover CUSA teams.
And in 2023 the split between the ASUN and the CCSA which is supposed to change their name to the united conference happens, correct? If nothing else changes...7 of those teams are going to stay ASUN and the other 5 plus LU are going to be in the new United spawned out of the CCSA? Correct? So why not have the ccsa and asun give the remaining CUSA teams the last life raft. Let the CUSA die...the asun once the split happens will be already be playing fcs football so the new united conference might take the cusa leftovers and go to 9...with three being FBS football indepemdents and the others not having football. Allows LU to stay independent...helps the asun split conferences grow...and gets LU, FIU, and LU two guaranteed games on the FB schedule each year which helps with scheduling those later games.

[Sly Fox]

Matt Brown is claiming that there is been no talks yet between FIU and the ASUN. I find that surprising. It seems inevitable.

If the ASUN were to merge to merge with CUSA, the combined league would likely assume the CUSA brand. Having four FCS schools with FBS ambitions already in the fold would theoretically give the new combined league a core of six:

Existing CUSA
FIU
La Tech
UTEP

ASUN FBS Aspirants
Austin Peay
Central Arkansas
Eastern Kentucky
Jacksonville State

If NM State was willing to come on board you have your eight required members. Once again, that is not a pretty lineup under any circumstances. But beggars can't be choosers. I suspect that the remaining three schools are likely bound for independence as soon as possible.

[jimflamesfan]

Ok. Now in 2023 is when the Asun/CCSA split officially happens, right? Is that still happening...it was announced about a year ago. It was said to happen officially on July 1 of 2023. The idea was that the CCSA and ASUN would kindof combine under one umbrella. If I understood it right the plan was to expand to 20 schools...and then split into two 10 team conferences.

The plan was that these 6 schools would remain in the ASUN: FGCU, Jacksonville, Kennasaw State, Lipscomb, North Florida, and Stetson.

That would leave these 6 invited to the new CCSA: JSU, LU, Central Arkansas, Bellermine, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama.

I could have that backwards??

The 6 invited to the CCSA would take the new name the united conference but they would keep auto bids in all of their sports as well through some technicalloty because the CCSA is an existing conference...even though it was originally a swimming conferenxe...it gets gradfathered in to auto bids because it's just adding teams.

The ASUN would also keep it's auto bids...

But in order for that to happen...the ASUN has to play as one conference and get to 20 first. So...if the ASUN invites the remainingg three CUSA schools and New Mexico for 2022-2023. That gets you 20 by July 2023.

It then splits into two 10 team conferences...the ASUN and the New United Conference.

The ASUN has an FCS agreement with the Big South for schools that want to play FCS.

Now the new United...it wouldnt technically have a football conference...but it would have 3 or 4 schools with now FBS independent teams...these schools get to keep independence but have a scheduling agreement.

It seems to help everyone???

LU gets some football home scheduling help, yet maintains independence.

The CUSA leftovers also have kindof a workable plan as well.

The asun is able to split without a lot of callups.

Win/win??

[ATrain]

Ok. Now in 2023 is when the Asun/CCSA split officially happens, right? Is that still happening...it was announced about a year ago. It was said to happen officially on July 1 of 2023. The idea was that the CCSA and ASUN would kindof combine under one umbrella. If I understood it right the plan was to expand to 20 schools...and then split into two 10 team conferences.

The plan was that these 6 schools would remain in the ASUN: FGCU, Jacksonville, Kennasaw State, Lipscomb, North Florida, and Stetson.

That would leave these 6 invited to the new CCSA: JSU, LU, Central Arkansas, Bellermine, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama.

I could have that backwards??

The 6 invited to the CCSA would take the new name the united conference but they would keep auto bids in all of their sports as well through some technicalloty because the CCSA is an existing conference...even though it was originally a swimming conferenxe...it gets gradfathered in to auto bids because it's just adding teams.

The ASUN would also keep it's auto bids...

But in order for that to happen...the ASUN has to play as one conference and get to 20 first. So...if the ASUN invites the remainingg three CUSA schools and New Mexico for 2022-2023. That gets you 20 by July 2023.

It then splits into two 10 team conferences...the ASUN and the New United Conference.

The ASUN has an FCS agreement with the Big South for schools that want to play FCS.

Now the new United...it wouldnt technically have a football conference...but it would have 3 or 4 schools with now FBS independent teams...these schools get to keep independence but have a scheduling agreement.

It seems to help everyone???

LU gets some football home scheduling help, yet maintains independence.

The CUSA leftovers also have kindof a workable plan as well.

The asun is able to split without a lot of callups.

Win/win??

Throw in UT-Arlington and Arkansas - Little Rock with the new United Conference, and yes. The wild card is, the A-10 is not too thrilled about a new autobid league stealing a potential at-large bid from one of its members, and well...something crazier is possible.

Also, Ian practically dismissed the idea of the ASUN splitting last year.

[alabama24]

Yeah...we are definitely better off doing that instead of playing VT, UVA, Wake, Army, BYU, and Duke.

Y'all are absolutely nuts and do not understand football at all.

First, there is no reason we can't try to still schedule those games. We aren't playing " VT, UVA, Wake, Army, BYU, and Duke." in a year. We are playing two at best.

Second, with a number of those teams, we are doing "two fers." The math doesn't add up.

Third, if we were in a conference, every conference game would matter. That means something.

Sly is right, however, that it is moot right now... but that stinks.

[ballah09]

We’re heading to the CUSA according to Brett Murphy.

Joining NMSU, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State. I have mix feelings on this. Only good thing about this is we will be a CFP member.

[paradox]

Yeah...we are definitely better off doing that instead of playing VT, UVA, Wake, Army, BYU, and Duke.

Y'all are absolutely nuts and do not understand football at all.

First, there is no reason we can't try to still schedule those games. We aren't playing " VT, UVA, Wake, Army, BYU, and Duke." in a year. We are playing two at best.

Second, with a number of those teams, we are doing "two fers." The math doesn't add up.

Third, if we were in a conference, every conference game would matter. That means something.

Sly is right, however, that it is moot right now... but that stinks.

Virginia Tech and BYU at home along with Wake and Arkansas on the road for 2022. Furthermore, all teams mentioned above are multiple match-ups including home dates. So, it holds, friend.

A home date with Marshall is, I think 2 years away? A few MU alum on here will enjoy that and they should. But, I'd imagine that it's a pretty safe bet that VT, UVA, even Wake will generate a lot more buzz around here than Marshall.

[LUOrange]

We’re heading to the CUSA according to Brett Murphy.

Joining NMSU, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State. I have mix feelings on this. Only good thing about this is we will be a CFP member.

[ALAFlamesFan]

Hopefully, this will be a short stay. ASUN is probably a better Bball conference and for football FCS might be stronger. Very disappointed. Maybe we can keep most of our FBS games. Hate to trade an ACC opponent or even a Sun Belt for Sam Houston St. Seriously, why did we invest millions in football??

This is a horrible decision and I support any and all coaches who run for the hills.

[paradox]

Thought UConn was part of this scenario?

8 is better than 16. We can still keep our premium games.

[TallyW]

This looks and feels like a big step down. Disappointing.

[ballah09]

Like I mentioned earlier, we will get a seat to the playoffs once it’s expanded to 16 and also get a share of the earnings too. We should easily dominate it to get it.

[paradox]

Is that just 7 teams total? Or maybe, WKU & MTSU are staying w/CUSA?

[Liberty22]

This is a horrible horrible horrible day if true. What an ugly conference. Kiss HCHF goodbye. We’ll stay a stepping stone now. I don’t want to talk about P5 for a very long time. This is a huge step down and a huge let down. I guess those of you whining about being “bypassed” are happy now.

[jimflamesfan]

I am totally just guessing here. What I heard and posted above was that LU wanted to know for sure that Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee weren't leaving before we joined. I'm guessing and hoping that at least one of those two are staying (probably Middle Tenessee) so CUSA will have at least the required 8 members. If they stay at 8 the pluses are: easier path to ncaa torney, access to bowls, still have slots for 5 out of conference games for football.
Minuses are the lack of ESPN, lack of a regional regional rival. Not the most powerful G5. But room to grow. LU will do what LU has done sinilar to the Big South and Asun...bring the conference up to our level. I am cautiously optomistic.

[alabama24]

Virginia Tech and BYU at home along with Wake and Arkansas on the road for 2022. Furthermore, all teams mentioned above are multiple match-ups including home dates. So, it holds, friend.

A home date with Marshall is, I think 2 years away? A few MU alum on here will enjoy that and they should. But, I'd imagine that it's a pretty safe bet that VT, UVA, even Wake will generate a lot more buzz around here than Marshall.

That is ONE season. Name another.

The VT game is when students won't be in town.

If McMurphy is right, it would seem Ian agrees with my way of thinking. Either way, I trust Ian.

[Sly Fox]

First off, Brett McMurphy's hit rate on this round of realignment has been abysmal. I would not count this as a done deal. We hold all the cards in this potential scenario. If we are agreeing to this patchwork league there has to be a backstory.

Not gonna lie that the possibility of having conference games less than a half hour from my house does have its upside for me. But Sam is nowhere near ready to make the move up in spite of their FCS championship this spring. No budget. Terrible facilities.

[ballcoach15]

If all this is true, we should still be able to play 2,3 or 4 P5 opponents each season.
We should be able to rule CUSA in every sport.

[alabama24]

First off, Brett McMurphy's hit rate on this round of realignment has been abysmal. I would not count this as a done deal.

Agreed.

[Kricket]

Hopefully, this will be a short stay. ASUN is probably a better Bball conference and for football FCS might be stronger. Very disappointed. Maybe we can keep most of our FBS games. Hate to trade an ACC opponent or even a Sun Belt for Sam Houston St. Seriously, why did we invest millions in football??

This is a horrible decision and I support any and all coaches who run for the hills.

Not that I'm super happy with this news, but I think the C-USA could be a pretty good basketball conference. Better than the A-Sun at least.