What the MWC ought to put some real thought into is sending an invite out to UTSA pronto and make noise about North Texas. Take one of the AAC’s better options off the board as well as signalling that SMU needs them more than they need SMU.
I think SMU probably stays put, but if there were anything to get them to move it would be fear that if they don’t they get left behind. Especially left behind UNT.
I also think the MWC does actually need to expand into Texas. I think one of the reasons for Colorado State’s flirtation is that the whole eastern column of the conference is struggling. I think playing in Texas was an attractive point for CSU/AFA and I would guess that a floundering UNM would also be interested in that. I think something needs to change their, in addition to Thompson getting his severance.
The MWC previously passed on overtures from Rice and UTEP, but UTSA and UNT/SMU are a more attractive pair.
The hard part there may be selling it to CBS and Fox.
Maybe, but the MWC could also play 7-D Pin The Tail On The Donkey and sweeten the deal by bringing along two of Tulsa, Rice, and Tulane. It’s not like they’re going to have a lot of other fantastic choices, and the conference could really use the academic clout. Navy would also probably leave at that point, and the American would almost certainly be dead. It’d also strengthen the Mountain division by giving them viable recruiting territory outside of CA.
Recruiting territory and exposure are why I mention UTSA and UNT or SMU. I think getting into Texas is pretty important to them right now.
I’m not sure if you’re talking about bringing in two privates to get to 14, or two privates in addition to the ones I mention to get to 16.
I think 16 might make sense, but I don’t think Tulsa+Tulane (much less Rice) is actually a better combo than UTSA+UNT. It is pilfering directly from your rival… but there are a lot of replacement-level options for those two. The institutional prestige is nice, but their potential is limited. SMU you want. Maybe you take another private in order to get SMU to come along. Otherwise Tulsa isn’t good enough and Tulane doesn’t justify the distance.
My thought was that the MWC goes to 16. Memphis, SMU, and whichever two of Tulane/Tulsa/Rice gets it done. You’d effectively be putting a Central Time Zone pod together, for the same reasons the Pac-12 does. Maybe UTSA and UNT is still more compelling than that; I don’t rightly know. But it might be worth the MWC’s time to establish themselves firmly as THE “Best of the Rest” conference.
If the MWC can get SMU and Memphis those would be some good gets. I’m just pretty skeptical that they could. If you need Tulsa and/or Tulane to make that happen, then sure. Then add UTSA and call it a day, I think
But I think they run into the same problems there that the AAC ran into with Colorado State and AFA. The difference in conference strength isn’t strong enough to justify it. If the MWC has a competitive advantage, they are saddle with an inferior TV deal even after you account for the AAC taking a 40% haircut (Thompson’s estimate).
I do not think SMU, Memphis or any AAC school is going to pay a $10M exit fee to go to the MWC to make $4M a year. The last lime I checked, $7M is more than $4M and even if ESPN drops the AAC teams to $4M, it would still be a lateral move. It makes no sense to move to the MWC.
You seem to be advocating for MWC. I will always support AAC. Frankly, it was the best conference we were in. We will see B12 how it goes. Money will be good but not synergy. My hatred for most teams in b12 is so much that I doubt I will ever support them. That was not the case in AAC.
I think exposure is what attracted them to the AAC in the first place. Much moreso than money or even conference prestige. (Though I think the conference’s complicated relationship with Boise State may have also played a role.)
My guess is that they were just getting too much blowback from alumni and boosters to go through with it. Making the move would have cost a lot of money, and they’d have needed those donors to cover it. If they wouldn’t, then it was a no-go.
Your hatred is exactly what will make the Big 12 great. The rivalries alone will be better because they will be fueled by genuine hatred. There won’t be an lovey dovey good game BS.
Nah, I’m just gaming it out from the MWC perspective. I want the AAC to come out on top. Whether I will care much after we’re gone I don’t know, but I liked the AAC a lot more than I did Conference USA.
I’m trying to root for the Big 12, but man it’s hard. It’ll probably come in time.
Read that AFA also said no.
If true, then looks like it may go the way I expected
Marshall replaces Cincinnati
UTSA replaces UH
UAB replaces UCF
Bring in a 4th school (no idea who and not taking any guesses) to even it at 12 in FB and BB
Good point. That could also hurt schools like UTSA and Georgia St. The Tulsa/Tulane types aren’t unaware of their issues. Adding a Rice has the academic prestige and a long history. Adding UTSA/GA St gives a school with many more students/alums in big markets a chance to easily jump over you with a negative academic hit. I think UAB is pretty much been penciled in, but it wouldn’t shock me if they went Rice and Marshall (smaller school, small city) if those private schools dig their feet in. Rice is great for travel for SMU and Tulane. Marshall would help Temple with travel.
I think those three are going to be asked to bring in some schools they are less than thrilled about (Marshall in particular, if they get in) and bringing in Rice along with them may help compensate.
(Or maybe they don’t want Rice at all. It’s all quite speculative.)