I think the AAC should be proactive. They lost SMU and may lose USF soon, potentially Memphis and/or Tulane. MWC conference is a rival conference and may get WOSU or you see the PAC rebuild as a best of the rest G5 conference. SBC is on the rise as well at least on the field.

If ESPN is willing to pay for expansion as they did before (we'll keep your deal if you add teams at half shares), I'd fill in the gaps in the league to cut down on travel by adding Texas St., Georgia St., Old Dominion, VCU (no FB), and Delaware/Buffalo for 18 teams.

Texas St. keeps the MWC out of Texas (besides them potentially adding UTEP), adding 3 SBC schools weakens their conference some, VCU would another school in Virginia and a rival for ODU along with ECU and Charlotte. Delaware/Buffalo gives Temple a travel partner, the teams added allows for pods in football and geographical divisions in olympic sports.

West:
Navy/Wichita St.
Rice
Tulsa
---
North Texas
Texas St.
UTSA

South:
Memphis
Tulane
UAB
---
FAU
Georgia St.
South Florida (FIU if USF leaves)

North:
Army/VCU
Delaware or Buffalo
Temple
---
Charlotte
East Carolina
Old Dominion

Football plays your pod (2 games), 2 of 3 in your neighboring pod, 1 of 3 from the other 4 pods for 8 conference games. Top 2 pod winners in CCG.

Basketball plays your division H&H, 4 of 6 from the other 2 divisions for 18 conference games (alternatively, play your rival/travel partner H&H and everyone else once). Top 5 from each division in conference tourney with top 2 from each guaranteed at least a bye, division winners guaranteed a double bye.