Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - The changing landscape of College Football

RoadRage · 11-04-2003, 08:23 PM

It's now official. The Big East has invited Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida (plus all-but-football DePaul and Marquette) to join them. In response, Conference USA has invited Marshall, Central Florida, Rice, Tulsa, and SMU to join them; definitely a better response than litigation.

According to CollegeBCS.com, the following schools are below the 15K butts-in-the-seats standard that starts next year: Buffalo (MAC), Kent State (MAC), Idaho (SB), Louisiana-Monroe (SB), Eastern Michigan (MAC), Middle Tennessee State (SB), Louisiana-Lafayette (SB), Central Michigan (MAC), and Akron (MAC).

Net result with other slated realignments:

Big XII, no change
Big 10, no change
SEC, no change
Pac-10, no change
ACC: add Miami FL, Virginia Tech, Boston College
Big East: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, PIttsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, West Virginia
Conference USA: Alabama-Birmingham, Central Florida, East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, Southern Methodist, Southern Mississippi, TCU, Tulane, Tulsa
WAC: Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, UTEP, Utah State
MAC: Miami OH, Ohio, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan, Ball State
Sun Belt: Arkansas State, North Texas, Troy State
Independent: Army, Navy, Norte Dame, Temple, Florida A&M

Akron and Central Michigan are less than 500 below the 15K mark, so the MAC may survive with 9 members.

The Sun Belt is fatally wounded, having only 3 members left. Troy State is a bit too far east for the WAC, the MAC will likely pick them up to ensure at least 8 teams for themselves. Arkansas State and North Texas help keep Louisiana Tech in the WAC by giving them a couple of relatively close road games.

The addition of up-and-coming South Florida with perennial homecoming attendent Louisville and more-known-for-basketball Cincinnati maybe enough to keep the Big East with a BCS bid. With the dissolution of the Sun Belt, maybe everyone dances or (more likely) the lesser conferences share a spot or two at the table.

Maybe the only question left is if North Texas will lose a Sun Belt Conference football game before there is no longer a Sun Belt football Conference.

11-04-2003, 08:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
RoadRage Stay off the sidewalk! Location: Oklahoma City, OK	The changing landscape of College Football It's now official. The Big East has invited Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida (plus all-but-football DePaul and Marquette) to join them. In response, Conference USA has invited Marshall, Central Florida, Rice, Tulsa, and SMU to join them; definitely a better response than litigation. According to CollegeBCS.com, the following schools are below the 15K butts-in-the-seats standard that starts next year: Buffalo (MAC), Kent State (MAC), Idaho (SB), Louisiana-Monroe (SB), Eastern Michigan (MAC), Middle Tennessee State (SB), Louisiana-Lafayette (SB), Central Michigan (MAC), and Akron (MAC). Net result with other slated realignments: Big XII, no change Big 10, no change SEC, no change Pac-10, no change ACC: add Miami FL, Virginia Tech, Boston College Big East: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, PIttsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, West Virginia Conference USA: Alabama-Birmingham, Central Florida, East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, Southern Methodist, Southern Mississippi, TCU, Tulane, Tulsa WAC: Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, UTEP, Utah State MAC: Miami OH, Ohio, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan, Ball State Sun Belt: Arkansas State, North Texas, Troy State Independent: Army, Navy, Norte Dame, Temple, Florida A&M Akron and Central Michigan are less than 500 below the 15K mark, so the MAC may survive with 9 members. The Sun Belt is fatally wounded, having only 3 members left. Troy State is a bit too far east for the WAC, the MAC will likely pick them up to ensure at least 8 teams for themselves. Arkansas State and North Texas help keep Louisiana Tech in the WAC by giving them a couple of relatively close road games. The addition of up-and-coming South Florida with perennial homecoming attendent Louisville and more-known-for-basketball Cincinnati maybe enough to keep the Big East with a BCS bid. With the dissolution of the Sun Belt, maybe everyone dances or (more likely) the lesser conferences share a spot or two at the table. Maybe the only question left is if North Texas will lose a Sun Belt Conference football game before there is no longer a Sun Belt football Conference. __________________ Join TFP Team SETI 43K workunits complete, 34 members, more of each needed. Last edited by RoadRage; 11-04-2003 at 08:25 PM..