Realignment Carousel Spins Up again (USC and UCLA to Big 10)

[SubGod22]

The PAC taking UNLV and Utah State would be great as it would guarantee that we could pull AFA (I think that's already going to happen) and New Mexico. I don't care much about Wyoming but Nevada wouldn't be bad, outside of being on a bit of an island at that point. Still worth considering. But I think AFA and New Mexico have to be targets to go after hard. AFA will help football a bit and New Mexico should help basketball a fair amount.

Wyoming can be decent at either, but I'm not sure they're reliable. There was a time I was willing to bring them in should we land the other three front range schools and they insisted. I'm pretty indifferent on them. Was really hoping Utah State would remain in play, but it sounds like they may not be an option. Nevada would make a little more sense if we had them.

Would the AAC be interested in another non-football school and go after a Grand Canyon just so there was a 4th western team for most sports?

It will be interesting to see what the MWC does should the AAC and PAC end up taking a couple more schools. I'd be curious as to which FCS schools, or new FBS Texas schools might consider joining. Because that would really be their only course of action to maintain football as a conference. Hawaii and San Jose State are pretty much guaranteed to be left and maybe a couple of others.

[BAShocker]

Serious question. From a football only perspective, who has the greater draw, audience, history, future etc., New Mexico or Wyoming? Basketball and probably most of the other sports…I would assume is New Mexico. But just looking at football only, I am not sure. Interested to hear what others think.

[SubGod22]

Serious question. From a football only perspective, who has the greater draw, audience, history, future etc., New Mexico or Wyoming? Basketball and probably most of the other sports…I would assume is New Mexico. But just looking at football only, I am not sure. Interested to hear what others think.

I'm not sure if either bring much of a draw to football in general. Wyoming is hurt by being in one of the least populated states in the union. The state population is about 70k less than the Wichita metro area. I'm guessing Wyoming doesn't have much of a national or regional fan base either. New Mexico isn't a large state (2.1M), smaller than Kansas, but New Mexico is the flagship of the state. How popular is football in New Mexico in general? I have no idea, but I think from a viewing numbers perspective that UNM would bring more value than UW.

When it comes to attendance, Wyoming has an edge of about 3k per game on average over the past 5 years. Not significant nor overly relevant to media deals. UNM does have a bigger stadium which means more potential growth of game day fans.

Neither school has ever won the MWC. Same with AFA, Hawaii, UNLV, Nevada, and Colorado State.

[Aargh]

I'm skeptical that UNM could add enough eyes for broadcast FB to cover their revenue share. It seems they would dilute the revenue pool. AFA should be revenue positive. Maybe between the two of them it might be revenue neutral.

[TrackSuitAndTie]

Apparently the AAC schools have been leery about adding schools to the west of their current footprint.

[SubGod22]

Apparently the AAC schools have been leery about adding schools to the west of their current footprint.

That only happened when AFA and CSU backed out on us a few years ago. And I believe we had our eyes on more if that worked out. I think the west was always going to be a target when the timing worked out. With the PAC picking pieces now, the timing is right.

But if there's too much concern about going too far west, AFA and UNM still make sense. UNM would also bring in one of the best basketball venues in the country. If we lose Memphis and Tulane, I say just add those two and call it good. I don't like the jump from Colorado Springs to Reno should Utah State and UNLV both go to the PAC. I'd get the hesitancy there, even though Nevada would be a pretty solid add if it worked out.

[BostonWu]

I'm not sure if either bring much of a draw to football in general. Wyoming is hurt by being in one of the least populated states in the union. The state population is about 70k less than the Wichita metro area. I'm guessing Wyoming doesn't have much of a national or regional fan base either. New Mexico isn't a large state (2.1M), smaller than Kansas, but New Mexico is the flagship of the state. How popular is football in New Mexico in general? I have no idea, but I think from a viewing numbers perspective that UNM would bring more value than UW.

When it comes to attendance, Wyoming has an edge of about 3k per game on average over the past 5 years. Not significant nor overly relevant to media deals. UNM does have a bigger stadium which means more potential growth of game day fans.

Neither school has ever won the MWC. Same with AFA, Hawaii, UNLV, Nevada, and Colorado State.

UNM unlike UW does bring a major metro area which fits the AAC model.

[BostonWu]

Starting football would be a great use of that surplus $100 million sitting in athletic department coffers. All we have to do is put a tax an a ballot to have the city build a 60,000 seat stadium. There's no doubt that would pass in a landslide. The excitement of that new team starting up in a new stadium in Wichita wouldn't have any trouble attracting 60,000 rabid football fans away from supporting KU or K-State, or even OU.

Those first couple of years when we'd likely be playing teams like McNeese State, Houston Christian, Northwestern State, Incarnate Word, and others in the Southland Conference would ensure some lopsided wins and maintain the fan level and support at a fever pitch.

Can't miss!

I believe you're totally underestimating the ICT cavers.

[Kung Wu]

Is there any benefit in the AAC and PAC merging into one conference?

[WuShock Reaper]

Is there any benefit in the AAC and PAC merging into one conference?

I think so. Here is my thought on a full merger:

Conference	Team	Division	Football	Basketball
AAC	Army Black Knights	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Charlotte 49ers	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	East Carolina Pirates	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Florida Atlantic Owls	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Memphis Tigers	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Navy Midshipmen	East	Yes	No
AAC	N. Texas Mean Green	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Rice Owls	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	S. Florida Bulls	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Temple Owls	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Tulane Green Wave	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Tulsa Golden Hurricane	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	UAB Blazers	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	UTSA Roadrunners	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Wichita St. Shockers	East	No	Yes
MWC	Air Force Falcons	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Boise State Broncos	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Colorado State Rams	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Fresno State Bulldogs	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Nevada Wolf Pack	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	New Mexico Lobos	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	San Diego St. Aztecs	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	San José St. Spartans	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	UNLV Rebels	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Utah State Aggies	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Wyoming Cowboys	West	Yes	Yes
PAC-12	Oregon State Beavers	West	Yes	Yes
PAC-12	Washington St. Cougars	West	Yes	Yes

How many teams out of this would make the FBS 12 or 16 (future) team playoff in football?
How many teams each year would make the NCAA Basketball Tournament?

[WINGdingBALLfling]

AAC saved for the time being.

[Stickboy46]

AAC saved for the time being.

Should be poaching time now.

[Stickboy46]

Some other context .. P-E is private equity

[TrackSuitAndTie]

[Kung Wu]

I think so. Here is my thought on a full merger:

Conference	Team	Division	Football	Basketball
AAC	Army Black Knights	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Charlotte 49ers	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	East Carolina Pirates	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Florida Atlantic Owls	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Memphis Tigers	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Navy Midshipmen	East	Yes	No
AAC	N. Texas Mean Green	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Rice Owls	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	S. Florida Bulls	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Temple Owls	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Tulane Green Wave	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Tulsa Golden Hurricane	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	UAB Blazers	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	UTSA Roadrunners	East	Yes	Yes
AAC	Wichita St. Shockers	East	No	Yes
MWC	Air Force Falcons	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Boise State Broncos	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Colorado State Rams	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Fresno State Bulldogs	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Nevada Wolf Pack	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	New Mexico Lobos	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	San Diego St. Aztecs	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	San José St. Spartans	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	UNLV Rebels	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Utah State Aggies	West	Yes	Yes
MWC	Wyoming Cowboys	West	Yes	Yes
PAC-12	Oregon State Beavers	West	Yes	Yes
PAC-12	Washington St. Cougars	West	Yes	Yes

How many teams out of this would make the FBS 12 or 16 (future) team playoff in football?
How many teams each year would make the NCAA Basketball Tournament?

Quick reaction ....

1) There is safety in numbers
2) There is a better opportunity to form reasonable East and West divisions that would prevent stupid travel expenses from exploding
3) There are a lot more marquee football and basketball games baked into the schedule