NC A&T to the Big South

[BTK2000]

https://www.greensboro.com/sports/colle ... 66272.html

Seems to me they want a run at the National Championship. My best guess is that they have a similar situation to App with the celebration bowl where they had to play in it and couldn’t opt to go to the playoffs if they won the conference. Thats the only situation I can imagine as to why they would make a lateral conference move like that. Looking forward to watching them make some noise in the playoff

[NavyApp]

I think this is a great move for them, very winnable regional conference. I look forward to seeing them make some noise. Easily the most underrated football program in the state.

[appstate77]

We still owe them one!

[hotrod2001]

Maybe its the first step in a bigger plan. Supposedly they are eyeing an eventual FBS move, most likely the Sun Belt in an attempt to become the premiere HBCU in the nation.

[ericsaid]

https://www.greensboro.com/sports/colle ... 66272.html

Seems to me they want a run at the National Championship. My best guess is that they have a similar situation to App with the celebration bowl where they had to play in it and couldn’t opt to go to the playoffs if they won the conference. Thats the only situation I can imagine as to why they would make a lateral conference move like that. Looking forward to watching them make some noise in the playoff

No reason to want a run at a National Championship. They get more exposure and money in the Celebration Bowl than from the collective games of the FCS Playoffs. This is a power play for an FBS move.

[GregPercussion]

Long term FBS move for sure. But overall a great move now to transition to try and make some FCS championship runs. This is big move, especially for an HBCU like A&T. But this will ultimately be a great move for them and keep gain some more regional matchups while keeping some of the HBCU traditional opponents.

[HighPointApp]

Hampton University is part of the Big South now. So there's another HBCU in the Big South as well.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Hopefully the crowds will be huge and that sweet, sweet tourist money rolls into my city.

Besides this I am glad to see A&T thinking bigger than HBCU, not that I want them to downplay that either. They have a proud history but time to move on.

[mikeyosef]

Long term FBS move for sure. But overall a great move now to transition to try and make some FCS championship runs. This is big move, especially for an HBCU like A&T. But this will ultimately be a great move for them and keep gain some more regional matchups while keeping some of the HBCU traditional opponents.

Definitely part of a much bigger plan for Football, other sports and the University as a whole. They are on a good trajectory to make the jump to FBS in a few years and I believe they will be successful.

[AppinVA]

It will definitely be interesting to see how they stack up in the playoffs. They’ve dominated the Celebration Bowl for a few years now. I think they’ll be successful, and they’ll have to be if they want to eventually become FBS.

[hotrod2001]

They were definitely talking about exploring going up to the FBS last August. I think they'd be a great FBS team and a good travel partner if the Sun Belt (most likely) was their final destination. They're probably going to be methodical about it though because they don't want to become another Florida A&M.

I'm also a little biased, as the idea of traveling 10 minutes down to BB&T stadium to catch an App Game is quite appealing, lol.

[APPdiesel]

I had no idea NC A&T had 12,000 students. And wow, Kennesaw State with 35,000. Next biggest in that league is Radford with 9,000.

[hotrod2001]

They must have really wanted out of the MEAC, because they approached 8 FCS and FBS conferences about joining.

[AppStFan1]

Agree this is a good move. I had not even thought about FBS at first because I don't keep up with them but I was not surprised by this and actually expect to see a couple more schools eventually move out of the MEAC or SWAC. A&T wants to become a better program and this makes it easier.

Kennesaw State is a big school that I expect to come to FBS and the Sun Belt, eventually. I could see A&T and KSU both eyeing moves to FBS by 2030. KSU just needs to get attendance up because they have school size. If they could improve attendance I could see them getting to FBS soon after.

Wonder who the next school would be to jump ship from the MEAC? Maybe FAMU or BCU?

[fjblair]

Very happy if they are happy. Wish them nothing but the best. I do hope they can make the move to FBS and maintain success. I have been a fan since I lived in G'boro in late 80's/early 90's.

[T-Dog]

The MEAC might be teetering. Savannah State dropped to D2, Florida A&M is having accreditation issues and S.C. State is always having funding issues. I would bet Howard might kick the tires on the Patriot League.

[1ASU78]

They have a date with the Bizon soon.

[ericsaid]

They have a date with the Bizon soon.

I live about 2.5 miles from NC A&T's stadium. I'd have gone to that game if it were in Greensboro purely out of curiosity. Looks like it's a one and done deal though.

[Champ24]

North Dakota will be coming to Greensboro in 2021.

I agree like all of you. This is a great move for A&T. I could easily see them in the Sunbelt within the next 4-5 years. Differently from everyone else, I see a domino effect

Texas to ACC
ND to ACC
Colorado to B10
OU to B10
Okie State to SEC
Kansas to SEC
Memphis to b12
Cincy to b12
UCF to b12
BYU to b12
Houston to b12
Boise State to b12
SD State to Pac12
WVU to AAC
App State to AAC
FAU to AAC
FIU to AAC
GA State to AAC
Key St to CUSA
NC A&T to SunBelt

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

No way a P5 (W by God Va) school moves down to the AAC without Capel hitting the fan.