Future of Sun Belt

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Coastal joins the Sun Belt football scene in 2017. This would give us 12 teams, which would break down into two divisions, likely an east and a west. However, the Sun Belt has mentioned dropping the two out of place out west teams Idaho and MN St after this year. That would mean we'd be at 10 teams once CCU joins assuming nobody else joins. What that would mean is one less OOC opponent, like Big 12 (10).

If they're dropped after this season, it would leave 9 teams, which would mean we'd have to play every opponent in the conference.

When the dust settles, what do you think the Sun Belt looks like say in 2017/2018 once Coastal is a full member?

[Saint3333]

I think the SBC will extend Idaho and NMSU for two years through 2019, which I think is the right call, past that would be a wild guess.

We could lose a member or two by 2020 or two schools like JMU, JSU, or Mo. St. could replace Idaho and NMSU.

[APPdiesel]

With no discernable or legitimate expansion options, and the expressed desire for a conference championship game in the immediate future, I don't see the Sunbelt dropping NMSU or Idaho.

twitter.com/DieselOnRadio

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Think Sun Belt moves the conference championship game to New Orleans or follows other G5 conferences with it played at the school with the better record? I for one would LOVE to see a conference title game played in Boone.

[8993]

While I know that the Belt won't do it, they need to pull the trigger and drop NMSU and Idaho. While having them both will let us have the championship game, they're dead weight on the conference and don't better the perception of the conference in general. I would much rather drop the two and add two programs that bring a good product in, like JMU, EKU, Jacksonville State, SHSU, Missouri State, Wichita State, or (don't kill me) even Liberty.

[ASUMountaineer]

While I know that the Belt won't do it, they need to pull the trigger and drop NMSU and Idaho. While having them both will let us have the championship game, they're dead weight on the conference and don't better the perception of the conference in general. I would much rather drop the two and add two programs that bring a good product in, like JMU, EKU, Jacksonville State, SHSU, Missouri State, Wichita State, or (don't kill me) even Liberty.

JMU doesn't want in.
EKU does want in, but has work to do.
Jacksonville State won't get in unless we lose Troy/USA.
SHSU is not ready.
Missouri State appears to be a pipe dream for SBC members, but who knows?
Does Wichita State have football?
Liberty has never been able to get the votes--don't see that changing.

While Idaho and NMSU don't fit the geographical "footprint," they're our only options currently for a CCG.

[JTApps1]

Much of this will depend on the NCAA ruling in January in regards to championship game deregulation. If the requirement stays at 12 teams then Idaho and NMSU aren't going anywhere. If that is overturned then I'd say both of them will be gone after next year. Some people are worried about not having enough teams if the SB is raided again, but I really don't see enough changes taking place in the next 5 years to drop the conference below 8 teams.

I'd personally be in favor of going to 10 and playing a round robin over keep those two teams. It's crazy to think we will have to play both of them next year.

[EastHallApp]

Much of this will depend on the NCAA ruling in January in regards to championship game deregulation. If the requirement stays at 12 teams then Idaho and NMSU aren't going anywhere. If that is overturned then I'd say both of them will be gone after next year. Some people are worried about not having enough teams if the SB is raided again, but I really don't see enough changes taking place in the next 5 years to drop the conference below 8 teams.

I'd personally be in favor of going to 10 and playing a round robin over keep those two teams. It's crazy to think we will have to play both of them next year.

Hopefully if/when the Sun Belt is raided again, we'll be one of the schools getting poached.

[Saint3333]

Once we go to divisions we'll play each western division team a max of once on the road every four years.

For me traveling to either location once every four years isn't the issue. The issue is their OOC success, they must improve there.

[moehler]

long term, pay attention to what happens with the new CUSA tv contract, which we should know something in the next 6 months. If they don't get the contract they want, and from what I have read, odds are they wont, then a regional conference is a definite possibility in the next 5 years or so. Expenses keep rising, while revenue seems to have hit the ceiling. If the tv revenues start to dry up, mid majors are going to be forced to atleast consider a regional approach to curb cost.

[AtlAppMan]

Why do folks think JMU is such a football catch?

1. look at their football record over last 10 yrs, it isn't that impressive.
2. Since they don't want in SBC then I don't want them in either.

[ASUGoose]

All talk about Idaho and NM St hinge on the NCAA ruling of deregulation of 12 team requirement for a conference title game. If it doesn't pass, Idaho and NM St are safe until the Sun Belt finds 2 schools to replace in the geographic footprint. If it does pass look for Idaho to be on the chopping block within a few years and NM St only survives if brought in for basketball as well. In this scenario, need to find a school to replace Idaho which could be ready in the next few years. If the conference decides not to extend NM St to all sports they would be gone as well and we go to 10 football schools.

As far as location of title game.. Benson has said that he wants title game to be hosted by team with best record. I don't see a neutral site title game happening.

[AppDawg]

Once we go to divisions we'll play each western division team a max of once on the road every four years.

For me traveling to either location once every four years isn't the issue. The issue is their OOC success, they must improve there.

I know you know this, but its not just limited to Idaho and NMSU's OOC success. The entire conference needs to pick it up. Us and GASO can't do it alone.

[AppAttack]

We either need to go to 9 and play everybody once or 12 with two divisions and a championship game. 10 would work if you wanted to play 9 conference and only 3 out of conference.

[Cincy App]

Much of this will depend on the NCAA ruling in January in regards to championship game deregulation. If the requirement stays at 12 teams then Idaho and NMSU aren't going anywhere. If that is overturned then I'd say both of them will be gone after next year. Some people are worried about not having enough teams if the SB is raided again, but I really don't see enough changes taking place in the next 5 years to drop the conference below 8 teams.

I'd personally be in favor of going to 10 and playing a round robin over keep those two teams. It's crazy to think we will have to play both of them next year.

I prefer a 12-team conference with a league championship game regardless of the NCAA ruling. I much prefer 4 out of conference games (OOC) instead of 3. We would drop to only 3 OOC games if we played in a 10-team league where each team played one another. Right now, our OOC games are more appealing than most of our conference games.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

While I know that the Belt won't do it, they need to pull the trigger and drop NMSU and Idaho. While having them both will let us have the championship game, they're dead weight on the conference and don't better the perception of the conference in general. I would much rather drop the two and add two programs that bring a good product in, like JMU, EKU, Jacksonville State, SHSU, Missouri State, Wichita State, or (don't kill me) even Liberty.

JMU doesn't want in.
EKU does want in, but has work to do.
Jacksonville State won't get in unless we lose Troy/USA.
SHSU is not ready.
Missouri State appears to be a pipe dream for SBC members, but who knows?
Does Wichita State have football?
Liberty has never been able to get the votes--don't see that changing.

While Idaho and NMSU don't fit the geographical "footprint," they're our only options currently for a CCG.

Wichita State is looking into football's return and at the FBS level. I think they have WCU's former chancellor which could mean all the talk is just that according to the WCU fan base.

[EastHallApp]

Why do folks think JMU is such a football catch?

1. look at their football record over last 10 yrs, it isn't that impressive.
2. Since they don't want in SBC then I don't want them in either.

I've always felt this way also (esp. #1). Good program, not great, and don't bring much to the table in hoops either. (Yes I know, pot meet kettle on that latter point, but still...)

[TheMackAttack]

Much of this will depend on the NCAA ruling in January in regards to championship game deregulation. If the requirement stays at 12 teams then Idaho and NMSU aren't going anywhere. If that is overturned then I'd say both of them will be gone after next year. Some people are worried about not having enough teams if the SB is raided again, but I really don't see enough changes taking place in the next 5 years to drop the conference below 8 teams.

I'd personally be in favor of going to 10 and playing a round robin over keep those two teams. It's crazy to think we will have to play both of them next year.

Don't the G5 conferences get money per school as well from the playoff, so having less than 12 is essentially leaving money on the table? More importantly, when you are considered the weakest conference, the worst thing that you could possibly do is schedule more conference games. Hell, if they'd let us play six conference and six non-conference games, I'd rather do that.

[Capt. Ed]

long term, pay attention to what happens with the new CUSA tv contract, which we should know something in the next 6 months. If they don't get the contract they want, and from what I have read, odds are they wont, then a regional conference is a definite possibility in the next 5 years or so. Expenses keep rising, while revenue seems to have hit the ceiling. If the tv revenues start to dry up, mid majors are going to be forced to atleast consider a regional approach to curb cost.

This plus pressure on athletic budgets from state budget cuts, cost of COA's and the competition to build bigger and better athletic facilities, will create a strong need to regionalize.

Down the road, I hope we end up in a conference with strong Southeast and Texas schools. Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Georgia Southern, Florida Atlantic, ULL, Ark. State, Missouri State, Texas State, North Texas State and Marshall would make ideal conference mates. Add ODU or even Georgia State and it would be game on!

One thing above all else I hope for is the Sun Belt or whatever conference we end up in publicly states we have no interest in JMU. It's time we start ignoring this petty little school who is more interested in how their hair looks than in playing big boy football.

[ASUGoose]

We either need to go to 9 and play everybody once or 12 with two divisions and a championship game. 10 would work if you wanted to play 9 conference and only 3 out of conference.

Going to 10 doesn't necessarily mandate you play 9 conference games. You could still play 8 and rotate cross division opponents each year and maintain 4 OOC games (which I agree needs to stay especially for G5 schools). With a title game, you still get a true champ. If you had 10 teams without a title game then you have to play 9 conference games to have a "true" champ.