I can see why this would be a dream scenario for Marshall. For the first time ever they would geographically be right in the middle of a conference, plus when you look at the success of these programs it probably would be the best G5 group, comparable to the new PAC2.
This proposed new SBC in my opinion is significantly stronger than the MAC. And let’s be honest, in FB, Miami has been signing players from the south, states this new conference encompasses. So we still have our “traditional” markets with the added benefit of more name recognition in the south.
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BG won’t be a happy camper. If they merge and realign, they ought to include the Falcons in the North and either Louisiana Tech or WKU in the South and have a 16 team G6 super league.
I’m assuming what’s left of the MAC would try to add Youngstown, Illinois State, EKU, and Delaware - merging them with Ball State, Buffalo, UMass, EMU, CMU and Western and preserving a 10 team league.
But I’m fairly sure UMass, UB and UConn would all take a run at the AAC.
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I didn’t see South Alabama is already on the list. They should add BG to the North and move Coastal to the South. 8 North and 8 South.
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This suggested new version of the SBC already has 16 teams, 8 north, 8 south. So BG is SOL.
Are we arguing winner and losers based on some random Marshall fans post?
Nope. I just thought this new idea was pretty interesting. Of Miami, Toledo and Ohio joining the SBC.
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Bluesman, thanks for having me on the show. I admire your courtroom moxie and guitar skills. My question: Given your penchant for high academics, doesn’t the Sun Belt give you some pause for concern? Aren’t most of those schools fairly weak academically? Also, only Miami has a true media market as we have Cincy and Dayton although maybe that doesn’t matter as some of the schools there don’t have any media market of note.
Thoughts?
Truth in advertising would require referring to that northern division as the Cloud Belt, particularly for the last third of the football season. But overall . . .
I like this. Much more interesting (and competitive).
Ah, yes. So add BG to the North and either LA Tech or WKU to the South and make it an 18 team league with two 9 team divisions.
The South has the Atlanta, Norfolk, Savannah and Mobile markets.
OU is now denying the reports for what its worth and saying there was no inquiry.
“We didn’t ‘inquire’, we ‘put feelers out’, ‘asked around’, ‘had our people call their people’…”
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They deny the same time La Tech is invited. Still we should be in the same conference with Ohio and Toledo. Whatever conference that is
I dunno why the rumor would’ve emerged if there wasn’t some truth to it, I don’t think the Sun Belt gains anything by making up rumors about OU. Side note, but here’s who would be in my dream Miami conference:
Miami, Toledo, OU, UC, Louisville, Marshall, WVU, Pitt, Rutgers, BC, UConn, Syracuse, Xavier, Dayton, Army football, and Navy football. If you take out the six P4 FBS teams for being too unrealistic (as if this wasn’t already), add in WMU, WKU, JMU, ODU, App State, and UB instead.
Wake, William and Mary, Delaware
All speculation and rumor I know that, but just to play the game. Does weeknight MACtion go away or does the Sun Belt become the new MACtion? I would think ESPN would try to push the Sun Belt that way if this ever happened, chance for more games and more markets.
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I’ve never thought of the MAC as the bastion of academics. OU has some decent programs, as does UB, and now UMass. James Madison is decent academically as is ODU. Neither MAC or SBC are going to be thought of as strong academically with a few exceptions at each. Basically a wash. They sure aren’t the UAA! (Top academic conference in D3, all research institutions)
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Love you. Much thanks.