Future of the Sun Belt

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Idaho & NMSU out. Coastal in for 2017. This brings the total to 10. Do you think the Sun Belt will be content with 10, with the somewhat recent news update from the NCAA, or do you think they will look to add two teams to get to 12 with two divisions? If we keep 10, then like the Big 12 we would only have 3 OOC games a year. What do you all think will be the direction the Sun Belt looks to go?

[EastHallApp]

If we keep 10, then like the Big 12 we would only have 3 OOC games a year.

Think that assumption is premature - sounds like the intent is to play an eight-game conference schedule.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

If we keep 10, then like the Big 12 we would only have 3 OOC games a year.

Think that assumption is premature - sounds like the intent is to play an eight-game conference schedule.

I personally don't agree with the notion of not playing every team when you have an 10 team conference. I like how the Big 12 does it. You play everyone, and can't dodge a bullet by the rotation of not playing a certain team.

[T-Dog]

The new rules means the Sun Belt doesn't have to play a full round robin, just like the Big XII doesn't. If you have two equal divisions and you have a full round robin schedule in each division, you can have a conference championship game.

The chances of going to a 9-game league schedule is very small.

[hapapp]

I doubt folks want to give up the 4 OOC games.

[hotrod2001]

Listening to the teleconference, it seems that the majority of the board members were pushing for 10 teams and thus kicking NMSU and Idaho out. At this point, I would think the Sun Belt is more worried about some other conference plucking their teams than looking for expansion.

[hapapp]

I believe it would have taken nine members to vote to extend the two beyond 2017. Obviously, there weren't that many votes to do so. Not sure if any feathers were ruffled over the decision.

[Saint3333]

Listening to the teleconference, it seems that the majority of the board members were pushing for 10 teams and thus kicking NMSU and Idaho out. At this point, I would think the Sun Belt is more worried about some other conference plucking their teams than looking for expansion.

If the SBC was concerned about other conferences taking our members I doubt we'd drop down to 10 members.

[SpeedkingATL]

The new rules means the Sun Belt doesn't have to play a full round robin, just like the Big XII doesn't. If you have two equal divisions and you have a full round robin schedule in each division, you can have a conference championship game.

The chances of going to a 9-game league schedule is very small.

What T-Dog said. Now just have to keep current members from leaving. I could see eventually growing to 12 but with the availability of a Championship game with 10 members there is certainly no rush to add members to reach 12. Certainly a more friendly travel schedule for everyone with these 2 schools departure and a big money saver on travel.

[MDaniels84]

This does set up much better for an East / West split in divisions . Hoping that all of the teams in the Belt stay the course and get better each year. App and Ga Southern have become the new face of the conference and will maintain that status if they keep up their tradition of winning . Looking forward to another App football season and another bowl win.

[moonshine]

The Sun Belt has some protection with CUSA at 14 members. I'd venture to guess that CUSA wouldn't mind shedding at least 2 programs and possibly up to 4 without having to add after seeing the TV money shrink. They have a lot of mouths to feed and if the CFP money has dropped down to $10mil per conference, CUSA programs will earn $285k+ less than SB programs off the CFP. With performance payouts increasing, the SB could ultimately catch up to and possibly surpass CUSA in revenue.

[hotrod2001]

Listening to the teleconference, it seems that the majority of the board members were pushing for 10 teams and thus kicking NMSU and Idaho out. At this point, I would think the Sun Belt is more worried about some other conference plucking their teams than looking for expansion.

If the SBC was concerned about other conferences taking our members I doubt we'd drop down to 10 members.

I agree. I probably worded it wrong, but what I meant is that they're not actively looking for other teams to join. Their goal is to be a solid, stable, REGIONAL 10-team conference and they seem to have done that with CCU coming in.

[JTApps1]

I doubt folks want to give up the 4 OOC games.

Yep. We can't really compare to the Big XII since most of those teams play 7 home games by scheduling G5's and FCS teams OOC. Although they may have to change their philosophy if the trend of H&H'S between P5 and G5 keeps going.

[JTApps1]

The Sun Belt has some protection with CUSA at 14 members. I'd venture to guess that CUSA wouldn't mind shedding at least 2 programs and possibly up to 4 without having to add after seeing the TV money shrink. They have a lot of mouths to feed and if the CFP money has dropped down to $10mil per conference, CUSA programs will earn $285k+ less than SB programs off the CFP. With performance payouts increasing, the SB could ultimately catch up to and possibly surpass CUSA in revenue.

One poster on the Sub Belt board calculated the G5 conference standing without Idaho and NMSU in the SBC, and our ranking was ahead of CUSA for 2015. If our bottom teams can improve just a little we should see much improved CFP payouts in the upcoming years.

[NewApp]

Idaho & NMSU out. Coastal in for 2017. This brings the total to 10. Do you think the Sun Belt will be content with 10, with the somewhat recent news update from the NCAA, or do you think they will look to add two teams to get to 12 with two divisions? If we keep 10, then like the Big 12 we would only have 3 OOC games a year. What do you all think will be the direction the Sun Belt looks to go?

So we kicked them out because of distance. Understandable. But why did they let them in to begin with?

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Idaho & NMSU out. Coastal in for 2017. This brings the total to 10. Do you think the Sun Belt will be content with 10, with the somewhat recent news update from the NCAA, or do you think they will look to add two teams to get to 12 with two divisions? If we keep 10, then like the Big 12 we would only have 3 OOC games a year. What do you all think will be the direction the Sun Belt looks to go?

So we kicked them out because of distance. Understandable. But why did they let them in to begin with?

Needed someone to fill the empty slot for all the teams that bolted to C-USA

[AppDawg]

Idaho & NMSU out. Coastal in for 2017. This brings the total to 10. Do you think the Sun Belt will be content with 10, with the somewhat recent news update from the NCAA, or do you think they will look to add two teams to get to 12 with two divisions? If we keep 10, then like the Big 12 we would only have 3 OOC games a year. What do you all think will be the direction the Sun Belt looks to go?

So we kicked them out because of distance. Understandable. But why did they let them in to begin with?

Needed someone to fill the empty slot for all the teams that bolted to C-USA

Not entirely accurate. They were not added simply to replace teams. They were added to the conference the same day us and Gaso were admitted. At that time the 4 of us put the conference at 12 football playing members and we were poised to have a championship game. Unfortunately, just a very short time later WKU threw a wrench in the plan by jumping to C-usa.

The goal all along was a CCG. Now that we can have one with just 10 teams, there is not a need for the geographical outliers.

[appsfan]

Listening to the teleconference, it seems that the majority of the board members were pushing for 10 teams and thus kicking NMSU and Idaho out. At this point, I would think the Sun Belt is more worried about some other conference plucking their teams than looking for expansion.

Keeping NMSU and Idaho for that reason wouldn't help much. The rules require a conference to have 8 football schools who are all sports members, so with or without them, we are at 10 from that perspective.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Idaho & NMSU out. Coastal in for 2017. This brings the total to 10. Do you think the Sun Belt will be content with 10, with the somewhat recent news update from the NCAA, or do you think they will look to add two teams to get to 12 with two divisions? If we keep 10, then like the Big 12 we would only have 3 OOC games a year. What do you all think will be the direction the Sun Belt looks to go?

So we kicked them out because of distance. Understandable. But why did they let them in to begin with?

Needed someone to fill the empty slot for all the teams that bolted to C-USA

Not entirely accurate. They were not added simply to replace teams. They were added to the conference the same day us and Gaso were admitted. At that time the 4 of us put the conference at 12 football playing members and we were poised to have a championship game. Unfortunately, just a very short time later WKU threw a wrench in the plan by jumping to C-usa.

The goal all along was a CCG. Now that we can have one with just 10 teams, there is not a need for the geographical outliers.

Four teams left in 2013. We joined in 2014 along with three other teams to replace those four teams. Whether those teams left or not in 2013 they would still have the same 12 assuming WKU didn't leave either. However, if those teams left in 2013 with no replacement, the Sun Belt would have had big problems. As you mentioned, adding App, GSU, Idaho, and NMSU helped get that number to 12, however it would be wrong to dismiss the irony and facts that four teams left in 2013 and four teams joined in 2014. All of which was already planned behind the scenes. The moment those schools showed interest in leaving the belt, the belt went searching.

This of course is all just my take and opinion. I have zero insight on behind the scenes moves.

[AppDawg]

Idaho & NMSU out. Coastal in for 2017. This brings the total to 10. Do you think the Sun Belt will be content with 10, with the somewhat recent news update from the NCAA, or do you think they will look to add two teams to get to 12 with two divisions? If we keep 10, then like the Big 12 we would only have 3 OOC games a year. What do you all think will be the direction the Sun Belt looks to go?

So we kicked them out because of distance. Understandable. But why did they let them in to begin with?

Needed someone to fill the empty slot for all the teams that bolted to C-USA

Not entirely accurate. They were not added simply to replace teams. They were added to the conference the same day us and Gaso were admitted. At that time the 4 of us put the conference at 12 football playing members and we were poised to have a championship game. Unfortunately, just a very short time later WKU threw a wrench in the plan by jumping to C-usa.

The goal all along was a CCG. Now that we can have one with just 10 teams, there is not a need for the geographical outliers.

Four teams left in 2013. We joined in 2014 along with three other teams to replace those four teams. Whether those teams left or not in 2013 they would still have the same 12 assuming WKU didn't leave either. However, if those teams left in 2013 with no replacement, the Sun Belt would have had big problems. As you mentioned, adding App, GSU, Idaho, and NMSU helped get that number to 12, however it would be wrong to dismiss the irony and facts that four teams left in 2013 and four teams joined in 2014. All of which was already planned behind the scenes. The moment those schools showed interest in leaving the belt, the belt went searching.

This of course is all just my take and opinion. I have zero insight on behind the scenes moves.

Your right. I was counting 3 in 2013. Forgot about North Texas.