(04-12-2022 01:27 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 12:16 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 12:06 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 11:53 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 11:28 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  These people that don’t know the difference between the F_U and state of Texas schools, are going to watch UConn football games? If you don’t know the difference between the G5 schools, why would you watch a UConn game versus one of these schools?

Well the more northern teams in CUSA probably would. But as usual, CUSA and their Texas leanings are all they concern themselves with. Who cares about WKU, MTSU and Liberty right?

If they don't know the difference between G5 schools they surely won't know who the FCS schools even are.

Yeah, that's totally what's happening here.

We're back to CUSA and the Texas bias. Such a weird obsession for y'all.

I think his original point is that casual fans (who don't know anything about SHSU or SFA or Tarrleton) are casual fans. They don't care about UConn vs NMSU either. So what's the difference (and he's right, other than the point Matt made above that I guess UConn vs. Maryland is worth more than SFA vs. Rice or UTSA or whoever they'd be playing for home OOC games).

Right. If “casual football fan” can’t tell the difference between FIU and FAU, why would he turn into UConn vs FIU?? Chances are “casual football fan” watches Ohio State, Florida, USC, and other high profile games. He’s not watching ESPN+ and CBSSN every week, like a lot of this board does.

CUSA will basically be on Facebook and Stadium which makes it even harder for casual fans to tune in.

And like I posted earlier, people aren’t watching UConn games either.

(04-12-2022 01:24 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If I’m C-USA, my focus is building a footprint. It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying. I’m looking to find 3 schools east of the Mississippi and south of Bowling Green, KY.

EKU, UTC, & Mizz St would seem to help achieve this:

East: Liberty, EKU, WKU, MTSU, UTC, JSU
West: FIU, Mizz St, LA Tech, SHSU, NMSU, UTEP

By bridge I meant more Texas/LA schools

If McNeese is serious about FBS I think you see McNeese and either SFA and/or Tarleton state join La Tech, SHSU, and UTEP/NMSU in a CUSA Western divison

This makes the most sense to me. That area has a lot more recruits than some of the other areas being thrown around.

(04-12-2022 01:25 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If I’m C-USA, my focus is building a footprint. It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying. I’m looking to find 3 schools east of the Mississippi and south of Bowling Green, KY.

EKU, UTC, & Mizz St would seem to help achieve this:

East: Liberty, EKU, WKU, MTSU, UTC, JSU
West: FIU, Mizz St, LA Tech, SHSU, NMSU, UTEP

EKU is not south of Bowling Green, but close enough I suppose. Either way, I think they will be added if we leave. I doubt they get in before that unless they have a tremendous uptick in athletic performance.

Out of curiosity, is there a prevailing view among WKU folks on which G5 league y'all would like the school to join if it left C-USA? I've read about the dalliance with MAC that got 86'd by MTSU, and I've heard about some C-USA schools having bad blood with the Sun Belt, but if y'all were to move on would it be 1) AAC; 2) Sun Belt; 3) MAC? I know you can't speak for all WKU folks, but wondering if there is a consensus, with the additions of the C-USA schools and JMU to the Belt, that makes that league more palatable than the AAC to Hilltopper fans.

(04-12-2022 01:19 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying.

There is absolutely NO NEED for a "bridge" to UTEP and NMSU.

Having 2 teams close together negates the reason for a bridge,

It’s laughable when people worry too much about bridging the gap for UTEP and NMSU when those two have to travel regardless of conference affiliation. Don’t worry too much about us. Leave the travel budget issues to the likes of Marshall and Southern Miss. I mean, UTEP for the longest time had to travel to Hawaii not just for football and basketball but for the Olympic sports as well so it doesn’t matter who’s in C-USA at this point. UConn and UMass are not the solution. Neither more Texas FCS teams. Stay at 9 and more CFP and NCAAT money so it’s a win win.

(04-12-2022 01:41 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:19 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying.

There is absolutely NO NEED for a "bridge" to UTEP and NMSU.

Having 2 teams close together negates the reason for a bridge,

It’s laughable when people worry too much about bridging the gap for UTEP and NMSU when those two have to travel regardless of conference affiliation. Don’t worry too much about us. Leave the travel budget issues to the likes of Marshall and Southern Miss. I mean, UTEP for the longest time had to travel to Hawaii not just for football and basketball but for the Olympic sports as well so it doesn’t matter who’s in C-USA at this point. UConn and UMass are not the solution. Neither more Texas FCS teams. Stay at 9 and more CFP and NCAAT money so it’s a win win.

It’s fairly obvious that most of those people have never driven through parts of the western United States. There’s like a gas station or two in between San Antonio and El Paso on I10 West? Maybe 1 small city that’s near El Paso? There’s no colleges in between San Antonio and El Paso and I think there’s 1 college (UTPB) in between El Paso and Dallas.

(04-12-2022 01:54 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  It’s fairly obvious that most of those people have never driven through parts of the western United States. There’s like a gas station or two in between San Antonio and El Paso on I10 West? Maybe 1 small city that’s near El Paso? There’s no colleges in between San Antonio and El Paso and I think there’s 1 college (UTPB) in between El Paso and Dallas.

Reminds me of this highway sign.

(04-12-2022 01:54 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:41 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:19 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying.

There is absolutely NO NEED for a "bridge" to UTEP and NMSU.

Having 2 teams close together negates the reason for a bridge,

It’s laughable when people worry too much about bridging the gap for UTEP and NMSU when those two have to travel regardless of conference affiliation. Don’t worry too much about us. Leave the travel budget issues to the likes of Marshall and Southern Miss. I mean, UTEP for the longest time had to travel to Hawaii not just for football and basketball but for the Olympic sports as well so it doesn’t matter who’s in C-USA at this point. UConn and UMass are not the solution. Neither more Texas FCS teams. Stay at 9 and more CFP and NCAAT money so it’s a win win.

It’s fairly obvious that most of those people have never driven through parts of the western United States. There’s like a gas station or two in between San Antonio and El Paso on I10 West? Maybe 1 small city that’s near El Paso? There’s no colleges in between San Antonio and El Paso and I think there’s 1 college (UTPB) in between El Paso and Dallas.

Sul Ross State?

(04-12-2022 11:26 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 08:55 AM)inutech Wrote:  I hate all of that, but the UConn football thing is the most baffling.

What in the world is the advantage of that? I can think of literally no upside to adding UConn football. Gross.

Because UCONN and UMASS at the very least have name recognition. Most fans aren't as knowledgeable about college football as the FANatics on message boards. Your average fan and fair weather fans want to play schools they've heard of. These schools being thrown around.. your average fan probably doesn't even know where those schools are located. Hell I know people that still don't know there's a difference between FIU and FAU.

Yes and I think for all of UConn/UMass FB failings up to this point due to lack of local recruiting base NIL might change the equation for them in a positive way.

Also the idea of UConn/UMass FB working as a pairing for a conference since its a natural rivalry hasn't been mentioned but I can see that.

I guess though for right now we are in a time of transition on the D1 and FBS organizational standards as well as awaiting another CFP contract. Wait and see for UConn and UMass seems to work best at the moment.

(04-12-2022 01:41 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:19 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying.

There is absolutely NO NEED for a "bridge" to UTEP and NMSU.

Having 2 teams close together negates the reason for a bridge,

It’s laughable when people worry too much about bridging the gap for UTEP and NMSU when those two have to travel regardless of conference affiliation. Don’t worry too much about us. Leave the travel budget issues to the likes of Marshall and Southern Miss. I mean, UTEP for the longest time had to travel to Hawaii not just for football and basketball but for the Olympic sports as well so it doesn’t matter who’s in C-USA at this point. UConn and UMass are not the solution. Neither more Texas FCS teams. Stay at 9 and more CFP and NCAAT money so it’s a win win.

To be clear, I think McNeese and SFA make more sense than say EKU because I believe they have a better chance at being successful due to the abundance of recruits available in the area.

(04-12-2022 01:54 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:41 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:19 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying.

There is absolutely NO NEED for a "bridge" to UTEP and NMSU.

Having 2 teams close together negates the reason for a bridge,

It’s laughable when people worry too much about bridging the gap for UTEP and NMSU when those two have to travel regardless of conference affiliation. Don’t worry too much about us. Leave the travel budget issues to the likes of Marshall and Southern Miss. I mean, UTEP for the longest time had to travel to Hawaii not just for football and basketball but for the Olympic sports as well so it doesn’t matter who’s in C-USA at this point. UConn and UMass are not the solution. Neither more Texas FCS teams. Stay at 9 and more CFP and NCAAT money so it’s a win win.

It’s fairly obvious that most of those people have never driven through parts of the western United States. There’s like a gas station or two in between San Antonio and El Paso on I10 West? Maybe 1 small city that’s near El Paso? There’s no colleges in between San Antonio and El Paso and I think there’s 1 college (UTPB) in between El Paso and Dallas.

Abilene is right on I-20 - Abilene Christian, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry there.

(04-12-2022 02:08 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:41 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:19 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying.

There is absolutely NO NEED for a "bridge" to UTEP and NMSU.

Having 2 teams close together negates the reason for a bridge,

It’s laughable when people worry too much about bridging the gap for UTEP and NMSU when those two have to travel regardless of conference affiliation. Don’t worry too much about us. Leave the travel budget issues to the likes of Marshall and Southern Miss. I mean, UTEP for the longest time had to travel to Hawaii not just for football and basketball but for the Olympic sports as well so it doesn’t matter who’s in C-USA at this point. UConn and UMass are not the solution. Neither more Texas FCS teams. Stay at 9 and more CFP and NCAAT money so it’s a win win.

To be clear, I think McNeese and SFA make more sense than say EKU because I believe they have a better chance at being successful due to the abundance of recruits available in the area.

yup, and while travel may not be a big deal for UTEP and NMSU who are going to travel regardless, it will be a big deal for schools in east TX and LA. This is why I think you will ultimately see a TX/LA based division in CUSA again. LA Tech and SHSU are not going to want to go both west to El Paso and east to Miami on a regular basis.

(04-12-2022 02:21 PM)solohawks Wrote:  LA Tech and SHSU are going to want to go both west to El Paso and east to Miami on a regular basis.

I'm not sure we want to go to either (ever).

(04-12-2022 02:16 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:54 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:41 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:19 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying.

There is absolutely NO NEED for a "bridge" to UTEP and NMSU.

Having 2 teams close together negates the reason for a bridge,

It’s laughable when people worry too much about bridging the gap for UTEP and NMSU when those two have to travel regardless of conference affiliation. Don’t worry too much about us. Leave the travel budget issues to the likes of Marshall and Southern Miss. I mean, UTEP for the longest time had to travel to Hawaii not just for football and basketball but for the Olympic sports as well so it doesn’t matter who’s in C-USA at this point. UConn and UMass are not the solution. Neither more Texas FCS teams. Stay at 9 and more CFP and NCAAT money so it’s a win win.

It’s fairly obvious that most of those people have never driven through parts of the western United States. There’s like a gas station or two in between San Antonio and El Paso on I10 West? Maybe 1 small city that’s near El Paso? There’s no colleges in between San Antonio and El Paso and I think there’s 1 college (UTPB) in between El Paso and Dallas.

Abilene is right on I-20 - Abilene Christian, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry there.

Kerrville close to San Antonio and then Ft. Stockton are the "big" towns on I-10 for the 550 miles between SA and El Paso. I-20 does have Abilene, Big Spring and Midland-Odessa.

(04-12-2022 01:38 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:27 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 12:16 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 12:06 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 11:53 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  Well the more northern teams in CUSA probably would. But as usual, CUSA and their Texas leanings are all they concern themselves with. Who cares about WKU, MTSU and Liberty right?

If they don't know the difference between G5 schools they surely won't know who the FCS schools even are.

Yeah, that's totally what's happening here.

We're back to CUSA and the Texas bias. Such a weird obsession for y'all.

I think his original point is that casual fans (who don't know anything about SHSU or SFA or Tarrleton) are casual fans. They don't care about UConn vs NMSU either. So what's the difference (and he's right, other than the point Matt made above that I guess UConn vs. Maryland is worth more than SFA vs. Rice or UTSA or whoever they'd be playing for home OOC games).

Right. If “casual football fan” can’t tell the difference between FIU and FAU, why would he turn into UConn vs FIU?? Chances are “casual football fan” watches Ohio State, Florida, USC, and other high profile games. He’s not watching ESPN+ and CBSSN every week, like a lot of this board does.

CUSA will basically be on Facebook and Stadium which makes it even harder for casual fans to tune in.

And like I posted earlier, people aren’t watching UConn games either.

You're talking about casual fans on TV. I'm talking about casual fans of CUSA schools. You think a casual WKU fan who lives in Bowling Green KY would rather go to a home game against Tarleton State or UCONN?

(04-12-2022 02:16 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:54 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:41 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:19 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying.

There is absolutely NO NEED for a "bridge" to UTEP and NMSU.

Having 2 teams close together negates the reason for a bridge,

It’s laughable when people worry too much about bridging the gap for UTEP and NMSU when those two have to travel regardless of conference affiliation. Don’t worry too much about us. Leave the travel budget issues to the likes of Marshall and Southern Miss. I mean, UTEP for the longest time had to travel to Hawaii not just for football and basketball but for the Olympic sports as well so it doesn’t matter who’s in C-USA at this point. UConn and UMass are not the solution. Neither more Texas FCS teams. Stay at 9 and more CFP and NCAAT money so it’s a win win.

It’s fairly obvious that most of those people have never driven through parts of the western United States. There’s like a gas station or two in between San Antonio and El Paso on I10 West? Maybe 1 small city that’s near El Paso? There’s no colleges in between San Antonio and El Paso and I think there’s 1 college (UTPB) in between El Paso and Dallas.

Abilene is right on I-20 - Abilene Christian, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry there.

You’re right. Forgot about ACU, but slim pickings for El Paso and Las Cruces “bridges”

(04-12-2022 02:31 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:38 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:27 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 12:16 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 12:06 PM)inutech Wrote:  Yeah, that's totally what's happening here.

We're back to CUSA and the Texas bias. Such a weird obsession for y'all.

I think his original point is that casual fans (who don't know anything about SHSU or SFA or Tarrleton) are casual fans. They don't care about UConn vs NMSU either. So what's the difference (and he's right, other than the point Matt made above that I guess UConn vs. Maryland is worth more than SFA vs. Rice or UTSA or whoever they'd be playing for home OOC games).

Right. If “casual football fan” can’t tell the difference between FIU and FAU, why would he turn into UConn vs FIU?? Chances are “casual football fan” watches Ohio State, Florida, USC, and other high profile games. He’s not watching ESPN+ and CBSSN every week, like a lot of this board does.

CUSA will basically be on Facebook and Stadium which makes it even harder for casual fans to tune in.

And like I posted earlier, people aren’t watching UConn games either.

You're talking about casual fans on TV. I'm talking about casual fans of CUSA schools. You think a casual WKU fan who lives in Bowling Green KY would rather go to a home game against Tarleton State or UCONN?

It should make little difference. Is your team good? People will go regardless of the opponents name. Is your team bad? People will find excuses not to go.

Marshall had 5,000 more people at their NC Central game than they did for their UAB and WKU games. I could have sworn WKU and UAB are bigger names than NC Central. Must be different in West Virginia.

(04-12-2022 02:06 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:54 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:41 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:19 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying.

There is absolutely NO NEED for a "bridge" to UTEP and NMSU.

Having 2 teams close together negates the reason for a bridge,

It’s laughable when people worry too much about bridging the gap for UTEP and NMSU when those two have to travel regardless of conference affiliation. Don’t worry too much about us. Leave the travel budget issues to the likes of Marshall and Southern Miss. I mean, UTEP for the longest time had to travel to Hawaii not just for football and basketball but for the Olympic sports as well so it doesn’t matter who’s in C-USA at this point. UConn and UMass are not the solution. Neither more Texas FCS teams. Stay at 9 and more CFP and NCAAT money so it’s a win win.

It’s fairly obvious that most of those people have never driven through parts of the western United States. There’s like a gas station or two in between San Antonio and El Paso on I10 West? Maybe 1 small city that’s near El Paso? There’s no colleges in between San Antonio and El Paso and I think there’s 1 college (UTPB) in between El Paso and Dallas.

Sul Ross State?

Not directly on 1-10 though

(04-12-2022 11:38 AM)inutech Wrote:  If CUSA could get more per school by owning some UConn vs. Syracuse games that makes sense.

Is that really going to improve the media deal by more than the cost of splitting the media deal another way? Is Stadium or whoever so interested in UConn vs. Duke that they'd pay 1.1 times what they'd otherwise give the CUSA 9? It'd actually need to be more than that to break even because of extra travel. Plus you'd have to play UConn yourself (which would suck because they're no kind of home draw and far from everyone).


The argument above makes logical sense and certainly you (and the conference) would know more than me about the actual math and what works or doesn't.

But as a fan of a CUSA school I am VERY much on the side of the UConn officials expressing no interest here.

Yeah, I think that's the honest truth. Over the length of the next CUSA TV deal, UConn's early season home inventory would include Maryland, Ole Miss, Wake and UNC. The fact that CUSA could probably get some combination of CBSSN + Fox + Apple + local RSNs etc to pay 1.1x speak more to the relative lack of TV value of the rest of the league, not that Ole Miss at UConn is THAT big of a special prize.

But 1.1x of whatever the CUSA deal isn't > than UConn's current arrangement (plus, their fans absolutely HATED the idea)

(04-12-2022 12:12 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  UConn had 2 “National TV” games not on CBSSN last year. One at Vandy on ESPNU and one at Clemson on ACCN. Neither one were rated by Neilsen. Nobody is watching UConn football and their “name” program.

To be fair, I don't believe Neilsen rates ANYTHING on the ACCN. A lot of inventory on conference networks aren't formally rated by Neilsen

(04-12-2022 01:37 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  If the reason for CUSA adding UConn is to *actually* add the inventory of Syracuse/Maryland/etc (and, honestly, there really aren't THAT MANY games of even that caliber on the UConn schedules), it makes no sense to say that UConn would be *forced* to drop those games to play a CUSA schedule.

They'll have to drop some of them...that's just math. If they play a CUSA schedule, UConn only gets four out of conference games, with one of them likely needing to be an FCS home game. There simply wouldn't be room for them to get more than one P5 home game a season.

Quote:Liberty was getting better independent schedules than UConn.

Not really...I believe there are only 3 P5 homes on their schedule out until 2030, and some of those are going to be canceled...but remember, Liberty can do something virtually no other G5 program can do...*buy* home games against FBS competition.

Quote:The bottom line is CUSA has a lot more chips on their side in that possible marriage with their bowl contracts and CFP/NY6 access.

CUSA's best bowl tie-in right now is what...the New Mexico Bowl? The Bahamas Bowl? And all of those tie-ins are about to get nuked in the next CFP contract. And you, me, and God all know that there's no CFP or NY6 access with this league right now lol, c'mon.

(04-12-2022 02:38 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 02:31 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:38 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:27 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 12:16 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  Right. If “casual football fan” can’t tell the difference between FIU and FAU, why would he turn into UConn vs FIU?? Chances are “casual football fan” watches Ohio State, Florida, USC, and other high profile games. He’s not watching ESPN+ and CBSSN every week, like a lot of this board does.

CUSA will basically be on Facebook and Stadium which makes it even harder for casual fans to tune in.

And like I posted earlier, people aren’t watching UConn games either.

You're talking about casual fans on TV. I'm talking about casual fans of CUSA schools. You think a casual WKU fan who lives in Bowling Green KY would rather go to a home game against Tarleton State or UCONN?

It should make little difference. Is your team good? People will go regardless of the opponents name. Is your team bad? People will find excuses not to go.

Marshall had 5,000 more people at their NC Central game than they did for their UAB and WKU games. I could have sworn WKU and UAB are bigger names than NC Central. Must be different in West Virginia.

Nope, against UAB it was 43* and raining and against WKU it was 35* and rain and it was Thanksgiving weekend and people were traveling back home.

(04-12-2022 01:38 PM)CarlSmithCenter Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:25 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(04-12-2022 01:09 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If I’m C-USA, my focus is building a footprint. It’s impossible to build a bridge to UTEP & NMSU—there’s no point in trying. I’m looking to find 3 schools east of the Mississippi and south of Bowling Green, KY.

EKU, UTC, & Mizz St would seem to help achieve this:

East: Liberty, EKU, WKU, MTSU, UTC, JSU
West: FIU, Mizz St, LA Tech, SHSU, NMSU, UTEP

EKU is not south of Bowling Green, but close enough I suppose. Either way, I think they will be added if we leave. I doubt they get in before that unless they have a tremendous uptick in athletic performance.

Out of curiosity, is there a prevailing view among WKU folks on which G5 league y'all would like the school to join if it left C-USA? I've read about the dalliance with MAC that got 86'd by MTSU, and I've heard about some C-USA schools having bad blood with the Sun Belt, but if y'all were to move on would it be 1) AAC; 2) Sun Belt; 3) MAC? I know you can't speak for all WKU folks, but wondering if there is a consensus, with the additions of the C-USA schools and JMU to the Belt, that makes that league more palatable than the AAC to Hilltopper fans.

It doesn't matter what WKU would want, the AAC would never invite WKU because we aren't a market school. That's never going to happen.

As far as the MAC and SBC, our fanbase is all over the place. We have some saying "let's rebuild CUSA into a strong basketball conference with the good core we have". You have some that want to go back to the SBC and you have some that want to go to the MAC. There are pros and cons for each possibility. The challenge is that ULL and ArkSt don't want WKU back in the SBC. The MAC won't take a single school and there aren't many other options to partner with WKU to the MAC.

Until another round of dominoes fall, WKU will remain in CUSA.