The Athletic’s Vannini expects Conference USA to add more schools at some point in the future, writing: “As for the options, Tarleton State has made a hard push. Eastern Kentucky nearly got in the Sun Belt years ago before the SBC went with Coastal Carolina. I continue to hear McNeese State thrown around, though it got a sweetheart deal to stay in the Southland, which also just re-added Lamar. Stephen F. Austin and Kennesaw State have also been out there. From the FBS level, UMass would like to be in for football, but C-USA hasn’t been that interested. In reverse, C-USA is interested in UConn football, and the sides had conversations last fall, but the interest from UConn isn’t quite the same. Conversations continue, but I don’t expect anything to happen for a bit still.”

https://twitter.com/ChrisVannini/status/...ApI1foU5uw

(04-12-2022 08:43 AM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  The Athletic’s Vannini expects Conference USA to add more schools at some point in the future, writing: “As for the options, Tarleton State has made a hard push. Eastern Kentucky nearly got in the Sun Belt years ago before the SBC went with Coastal Carolina. I continue to hear McNeese State thrown around, though it got a sweetheart deal to stay in the Southland, which also just re-added Lamar. Stephen F. Austin and Kennesaw State have also been out there. From the FBS level, UMass would like to be in for football, but C-USA hasn’t been that interested. In reverse, C-USA is interested in UConn football, and the sides had conversations last fall, but the interest from UConn isn’t quite the same. Conversations continue, but I don’t expect anything to happen for a bit still.”

https://twitter.com/ChrisVannini/status/...ApI1foU5uw

I would surmise the next upgrade duo would come from the Southland/WAC area to give LA Tech some company and try and bridge that big gap between La Tech and UTEP/NMSU known as the state of Texas

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.

More confirmation that it was CUSA reaching out to UConn and not the other way around.

(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.

Only thing I can surmise is the "Brand name" of Uconn (thanks in large part to basketball).

(04-12-2022 08:43 AM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  The Athletic’s Vannini expects Conference USA to add more schools at some point in the future, writing: “As for the options, Tarleton State has made a hard push. Eastern Kentucky nearly got in the Sun Belt years ago before the SBC went with Coastal Carolina. I continue to hear McNeese State thrown around, though it got a sweetheart deal to stay in the Southland, which also just re-added Lamar. Stephen F. Austin and Kennesaw State have also been out there. From the FBS level, UMass would like to be in for football, but C-USA hasn’t been that interested. In reverse, C-USA is interested in UConn football, and the sides had conversations last fall, but the interest from UConn isn’t quite the same. Conversations continue, but I don’t expect anything to happen for a bit still.”

https://twitter.com/ChrisVannini/status/...ApI1foU5uw

Just... woof.

A school that just made it to Division I, WKU's weird little brother that lives down the street, another Atlanta-metro school that has no major fan support in the area, and a few others that are just there. None of these are going to move the needle for the average fan or media contracts.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: CUSA's best option right now might be to stand at nine and wait it out. Build what you've got before you add others in who will just water it down. Give your new lineup a shot while these others do their job in building themselves up to be the strongest candidate possible, because right now, all of them are just... bleh.

(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.

From UConn's perspective it also doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I guess that's why the interest wasn't reciprocated. Presumably if CUSA goes to 10 teams, they would have 9 conference games.

Next season UConn has Syracuse, Michigan, Army, UMass, Boston College, and Central Connecticut on their schedule. They would have to cut at least 3 of those out for some combo of CUSA schools that are probably less appealing to a UConn fan.

I know Tarleton is making a hard push but I'll admit I don't see the advantage in it for CUSA. Could Tarleton be a good pickup in a decade? Sure.

Have they won anything at the FCS level yet to show off that potential? No.

(04-12-2022 09:10 AM)TDenverFan 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.

From UConn's perspective it also doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I guess that's why the interest wasn't reciprocated. Presumably if CUSA goes to 10 teams, they would have 9 conference games.

Next season UConn has Syracuse, Michigan, Army, UMass, Boston College, and Central Connecticut on their schedule. They would have to cut at least 3 of those out for some combo of CUSA schools that are probably less appealing to a UConn fan.

No chance a G5 conference goes to a 9 game conference schedule (which is another reason not to add another school).

From UConn's side, it would be reliable home games and a better chance at a bowl (and playoff money). The trade off the other way, as you say is that those reliable home games aren't really against anyone they'd be interested in playing and they'd have to travel to 4 opponents pretty far away.

But I don't care what UConn might want (other than that I'm glad that don't want to join CUSA).

I just can't see what they bring to CUSA. It's such an awful idea.

(04-12-2022 09:09 AM)8993 Wrote:  CUSA's best option right now might be to stand at nine and wait it out.

100%

And if your school gets out, great - you found something better.

If you get left behind again, well - the same choices are still going to be there (and even if they aren't, it isn't like your other options would be much worse).

(04-12-2022 09:10 AM)TDenverFan 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.

From UConn's perspective it also doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I guess that's why the interest wasn't reciprocated. Presumably if CUSA goes to 10 teams, they would have 9 conference games.

Next season UConn has Syracuse, Michigan, Army, UMass, Boston College, and Central Connecticut on their schedule. They would have to cut at least 3 of those out for some combo of CUSA schools that are probably less appealing to a UConn fan.

No, they would retain just 8 games via 2 divisions of 5, as the Sun Belt has been doing.

Yikes. McNeese State is about the only one I’d look at from that group. Maybe another from Texas like Stephen F. Austin. I literally don’t know anything about Charlatan State.

I’d look at Tennessee State. They’re located in Nash Vegas, play at the Coliseum, and would be the first HBCU to play in an FBS league. C’mon, it can’t cost that much to play in CUSA.

UConn and UMass would be for the security of warm bodies.

(04-12-2022 09:10 AM)TDenverFan 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.

From UConn's perspective it also doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I guess that's why the interest wasn't reciprocated. Presumably if CUSA goes to 10 teams, they would have 9 conference games.

Next season UConn has Syracuse, Michigan, Army, UMass, Boston College, and Central Connecticut on their schedule. They would have to cut at least 3 of those out for some combo of CUSA schools that are probably less appealing to a UConn fan.

Syracuse and UMass are old rivals. There is no way they are going to throw away those games. As for BC, they have been begging for that game for years!!! I don't see them letting that one go either. And any game with Army is pure gold!! Guaranteed draw for sure!!
Even Michigan has value.

Just please stop it already. This is pitiful.

UCONN no unless you get their basketball, so its a no.
Kennesaw has a better chance than GSU in the ATL market
McNeese would be competitive with the other LA FBS schools not named LSU.
EKU, if the right administration is there the fans have the desire to win.

CUSA needs to decide the future course. Is it eastern, southern, southwestern or midwestern. Then it is easier to guess the next member.

(04-12-2022 09:44 AM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  UCONN no unless you get their basketball, so its a no.
Kennesaw has a better chance than GSU in the ATL market
McNeese would be competitive with the other LA FBS schools not named LSU.
EKU, if the right administration is there the fans have the desire to win.

CUSA needs to decide the future course. Is it eastern, southern, southwestern or midwestern. Then it is easier to guess the next member.

Have to disagree on Kennesaw, but agree on everything else. Tarleton does seem interesting, but needs to prove themselves.

I know Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech have a tremendous amount of bad blood with the Sun Belt and it’s members, but is the same true for MTSU? If the smoke about Missouri State to the Belt is true, and knowing that MTSU torpedoed the WKU move to the MAC, could Middle go with Missouri State to the Belt, thereby giving C-USA room to add 4 like, say, 2 HBCUs in Tennessee State and NC A&T, both of whom are in biggish Southern cities and have voiced interest in FBS ball, as well as Eastern Kentucky and one of McNeese, SFA, or Tarleton?

East: Liberty, NC A&T, FIU, EKU, WKU, Tennessee State.
West: NMSU, UTEP, SHSU, (insert one of McNeese, SFA, or Tarleton), Louisiana Tech, Jacksonville State.

Alternatively, if Missouri State leaves the MVC/MVFC, would Tennessee State be a candidate to replace them in those leagues?

EKU makes no sense. That low recruiting area is already oversaturated and they won’t be able to compete with established MAC programs to the north and southern squads.

(04-12-2022 08:43 AM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  The Athletic’s Vannini expects Conference USA to add more schools at some point in the future, writing: “As for the options, Tarleton State has made a hard push. Eastern Kentucky nearly got in the Sun Belt years ago before the SBC went with Coastal Carolina. I continue to hear McNeese State thrown around, though it got a sweetheart deal to stay in the Southland, which also just re-added Lamar. Stephen F. Austin and Kennesaw State have also been out there. From the FBS level, UMass would like to be in for football, but C-USA hasn’t been that interested. In reverse, C-USA is interested in UConn football, and the sides had conversations last fall, but the interest from UConn isn’t quite the same. Conversations continue, but I don’t expect anything to happen for a bit still.”

https://twitter.com/ChrisVannini/status/...ApI1foU5uw

A UMass/UConn package deal would be interesting. But I've always been a fan of EKU moving up

That conference is a hot mess, they need to figure something out soon. IF they're going to add, they should act sooner than later to look like they're aggressively trying to improve and not adding as an act of survival.
If they stand pat and develop what they have, cool. But that also means a change at the top and putting someone in there that can get exposure and has a clear vision for what the conference is striving for

Adding Lamar would help keep McNeese State in the SLC/FCS? Not sure why he would mention Lamar, not like that would change McNeese’s mind if they got the call from CUSA.