Conference Realignment

[josephpoint]

Report: Colorado State, Air Force Latest College Football Programs Eyeing Move to AAC

As conference realignment continues to change the college football landscape, two Mountain West Conference programs, Colorado State and Air Force are expected to join the American Athletic Conference.

Action Network's Brett McMurphy first reported the news, saying the move could likely happen next week.

While the AAC has a clear stance on adding more teams to its conference as three prepare to leave, Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reported there is a disagreement over whether those schools leaving for the AAC is ultimately a good move.

"The biggest problem right now is no one has any faith in Craig Thompson as commissioner and there is growing concerned about the league," Norlander reported.
Colorado State and Air Force are both charter members of the MWC. Air Force has never won a conference title in football, while Colorado State won conference titles in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

However, the Rams have not been bowled eligible since 2017 and the Falcons last bowl appearance came in 2019 in a 31-21 victory against Washington State in the Cheez-It Bowl.

The AAC's Houston, Cincinnati and UCF, plus BYU, independently accepted invitations for membership into the Big 12 as previously reported by Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger and Pat Forde. The teams would likely join the conference in 2024.

San Diego State and Boise State were heavily courted by the AAC but refused to leave the conference. Per Norlander, the Broncos are hoping for an invite to the Big 12.
Despite teams leaving the conference, the league plans to remain the sixth strongest conference in college football.

“The American has been Power 6 all along and will be one moving forward,” AAC commissioner Mike Aresco told SI in an interview earlier this month.

“The Big 12 is taking our teams because of what’s happened to them. That tells you all you need to know in terms of where we are. Teams will be interested in us that have the resources to compete at the highest level in our league with an outstanding TV partner in ESPN.”

 

[Kadeezy]

Honestly.., the best timing to go from FCS to FBS was back in the day when Nevada Reno etc moved up.

The Big Sky doing a recreation of itself into an FBS conference would be the best overall.

A few schools can’t & wouldn’t want to go FBS. They could join WAC. Others from MVC and New Mexico State for example could join BigSky FBS.

I doubt the BigSky Commissioner and university presidents have considered it?

The commissioner was practically teasing an FBS move on Twitter this week as he was meeting with tHe Big 10 and others

 

[the Rat]

I think a move for Sac State to FCS and to the Mountain West Conference is ill advised at this time. The focus should be on building established winning programs in football, basketball, and improving the football stadium and building new facilities. We’ve been addicted to sub and par mediocrity in those programs since the move up to 1aa in the mid-nineties.
Programs like App State, Georgia Southern have shown the blueprint for success with winning programs and national championships before making the move.

Make the jump to FBS to a conference even like the Mountain West, translates into more decades anchored at the bottom of the conference competing and recruiting against the likes of Fresno State, Nevada, SDSU, and yes, even UNLV. Hornet Stadium or Allegiant Stadium?

And, why would the Mountain West even want Sac State? The eyeballs for television is becoming a metric of the past and transitioning to streaming for revenue. What financial incentives does Sac State bring to the table for the Mountain West? They aren’t interested in bringing on dead weight to dilute conference revenue sharing.

Embrace the Sky and establish winning traditions, and see what happens further out.

 

[SDHornet]

Per twitter, Air Force and Colorado State to the AAC is not happening. MWC is staying intact...at least until the Big 12 invites Boise State and/or SDSU later down the road.

Our only shot at a MWC invite (albeit however long of a shot it would be) was if the AF & CSU raid went through, and then the B12 took Boise and SDSU. MWC is now clearly ahead of the AAC in the FBS pecking order.

Regarding any potential move to FBS for Sac State, you take any invite that comes. Waiting to get better in sports is foolish. You can always build while the growing pains of moving the FBS are occurring (aka the Sun Belt model).

A new FBS conference out west isn't happening, so the only way to FBS would be the Indy route as shown by Liberty and I don't see that being a viable option unless there are a handful of schools in the region do it at the same time.

 

[the Rat]

Regarding any potential move to FBS for Sac State, you take any invite that comes. Waiting to get better in sports is foolish. You can always build while the growing pains of moving the FBS are occurring (aka the Sun Belt model).

Yeah, we have built something really special over the last 25 years since our invite to the Big Sky.

 

[SDHornet]

Regarding any potential move to FBS for Sac State, you take any invite that comes. Waiting to get better in sports is foolish. You can always build while the growing pains of moving the FBS are occurring (aka the Sun Belt model).

Yeah, we have built something really special over the last 25 years since our invite to the Big Sky.

Exactly, so why wait for that to happen (it won't) and pass on an FBS invite. Completely foolish.

It's moot anyways. Without a complete implosion of the MW, there isn't a viable pathway to FBS.

 

[the Rat]

Regarding any potential move to FBS for Sac State, you take any invite that comes. Waiting to get better in sports is foolish. You can always build while the growing pains of moving the FBS are occurring (aka the Sun Belt model).

Yeah, we have built something really special over the last 25 years since our invite to the Big Sky.

Exactly, so why wait for that to happen (it won't) and pass on an FBS invite. Completely foolish.

It's moot anyways. Without a complete implosion of the MW, there isn't a viable pathway to FBS.

Wait. Did you say Sac State won't build anything special, but we should take any FBS invite that comes along because we "can always build?"

 

[SDHornet]

Regarding any potential move to FBS for Sac State, you take any invite that comes. Waiting to get better in sports is foolish. You can always build while the growing pains of moving the FBS are occurring (aka the Sun Belt model).

Yeah, we have built something really special over the last 25 years since our invite to the Big Sky.

Exactly, so why wait for that to happen (it won't) and pass on an FBS invite. Completely foolish.

It's moot anyways. Without a complete implosion of the MW, there isn't a viable pathway to FBS.

Wait. Did you say Sac State won't build anything special, but we should take any FBS invite that comes along because we "can always build?"

Correct, we can't build anything special in the Big Sky. It would have happened already if it was going to happen, I mean we're 25 years into it, how many more data points do you need? 2019 football was special, but until we can follow that title up with more titles and playoff runs then for now it's just an outlier. And since significant facility improvement/investments aren't happening, it's safe to say being a Big Sky member isn't a driver for that metric either.

FBS vs FCS is strictly a business decision that would maximize potential and could serve as a driver for investment and interest in not just athletics but the University as a whole. A state school with 30k+ enrollment at the FBS level would absolutely see increases across every metric in that regard. Arguing otherwise is just laughable.

 

[the Rat]

An invite from the MW Conference seems unlikely, would you want Sac State to accept an invite from the WAC should it move up to FBS, which it is rumored wanting to do?

 

[SDHornet]

An invite from the MW Conference seems unlikely, would you want Sac State to accept an invite from the WAC should it move up to FBS, which it is rumored wanting to do?

Yes. Only after it is officially an FBS conference, and only if we have a regional partner making the move too (dungpilers and/or CP). Even being in the lowest of the low FBS conference opens the door to home FB games against MW members, most of whom would probably not want to visit Hornet Stadium unless it was improved which would force out hand wrt facility improvements.

See how this works?

 

[the Rat]

Oh, yes. I see your responses dripping with condescension. Well, done moderator. You wrote earlier that"regarding any potential move to FBS for Sac State, you take any invite that comes." But, now you are putting conditions on it, like having a regional partner is a must? Why? If even a lowly FBS conference would be such a great move, a regional partner shouldn't be an issue. What if a desperate FBS conference based in the east needs a member and invites Sac State, shouldn't they join?

 

[SDHornet]

Oh, yes. I see your responses dripping with condescension. Well, done moderator. You wrote earlier that"regarding any potential move to FBS for Sac State, you take any invite that comes." But, now you are putting conditions on it, like having a regional partner is a must? Why? If even a lowly FBS conference would be such a great move, a regional partner shouldn't be an issue. What if a desperate FBS conference based in the east needs a member and invites Sac State, shouldn't they join?

Well since we were talking about the MW, accepting an invite from them is a no-brainer. WAC isn't currently FBS, and I question the validity of it ever being one. Since we've ventured into the hypothetical realm of FBS membership wrt the WAC, absolutely there should be conditions.

And an eastern based FBS conference won't be inviting a west coast program so even bringing that up tells me you have no idea how this actually works. Good job trolling me into thinking you have a clue about how the FCS to FBS dynamic even works. Points for you my guy.

 

[the Rat]

Oh, yes. I see your responses dripping with condescension. Well, done moderator. You wrote earlier that"regarding any potential move to FBS for Sac State, you take any invite that comes." But, now you are putting conditions on it, like having a regional partner is a must? Why? If even a lowly FBS conference would be such a great move, a regional partner shouldn't be an issue. What if a desperate FBS conference based in the east needs a member and invites Sac State, shouldn't they join?

Well since we were talking about the MW, accepting an invite from them is a no-brainer. WAC isn't currently FBS, and I question the validity of it ever being one. Since we've ventured into the hypothetical realm of FBS membership wrt the WAC, absolutely there should be conditions.

And an eastern based FBS conference won't be inviting a west coast program so even bringing that up tells me you have no idea how this actually works. Good job trolling me into thinking you have a clue about how the FCS to FBS dynamic even works. Points for you my guy.

Lol. I don’t need your points, nor am I your guy, and I wasn’t trying to troll you. Nor was I demeaning. Conferences in survival mode considering or inviting teams to join them two or three time zones away has occurred. The AAC in round 1 of expansion were recruiting Boise State and SDSU. The Pioneer League has teams on both coasts. I was only interested in seeing how far you would go in supporting Sac State being in any FBS conference.

I don’t know all the ins and outs of conference realignment nor do I claim to. But, I learned a little more this afternoon about it, and also something about your character.

I just an over-the-hill 2x graduate of Sac State who was in the stands during the painful transition years in the 1990s. My desire to have them stay in the Big Sky is not based on finances, but more emotional. I believe our best years are right in front of us with the current president, athletic director and football coach to build some winning seasons. I am not interested in moving up to the MW at this time to be weekly featured in ESPN's Bottom Ten and wishing upon a star that some facilities get built. I ain't got no time for that.

 

[Kadeezy]

Dream scenario with SUU leaving is to give UNC the boot, or encourage them to drop down to DII or head to scholly-free Pioneer. Leaves 12 teams to move to FBS with decent enough facilities, or ability to improve them!

 

[SoCalSacHornetFan]

You guys both had a good chat until you started getting sarcastic etc.

Bottom line is that money talks!!! If we had an invite to an FBS conference our financial position would see a solid increase in funding.

With that added funding, along with improved scheduling to bigger names such as Reno, Fresno St and San Jose St our ticket sales would also see a big boost!

With that new infusion of capital. We could make upgrades!

Gotta have a “Can do Attitude!!” Can’t dwell on the past

 

[SDHornet]

Lol. I don’t need your points, nor am I your guy, and I wasn’t trying to troll you. Nor was I demeaning. Conferences in survival mode considering or inviting teams to join them two or three time zones away has occurred. The AAC in round 1 of expansion were recruiting Boise State and SDSU. The Pioneer League has teams on both coasts. I was only interested in seeing how far you would go in supporting Sac State being in any FBS conference.

I don’t know all the ins and outs of conference realignment nor do I claim to. But, I learned a little more this afternoon about it, and also something about your character.

I just an over-the-hill 2x graduate of Sac State who was in the stands during the painful transition years in the 1990s. My desire to have them stay in the Big Sky is not based on finances, but more emotional. I believe our best years are right in front of us with the current president, athletic director and football coach to build some winning seasons. I am not interested in moving up to the MW at this time to be weekly featured in ESPN's Bottom Ten and wishing upon a star that some facilities get built. I ain't got no time for that.

Pioneer is a non-scholarship FCS private school league ($$$), it has zero relevance to the FBS discussion.

I'm a 1x graduate of Sac State that had to endure the Moosh era as a student, and the subsequent years of futility when we had an admin that funded the AD on a shoestring budget. I agree about a bright future ahead. We finally have an admin with a clue that is willing to spend the money needed to be competitive at the FCS level. Hope this translates into decades of success.

 

[SDHornet]

Dream scenario with SUU leaving is to give UNC the boot, or encourage them to drop down to DII or head to scholly-free Pioneer. Leaves 12 teams to move to FBS with decent enough facilities, or ability to improve them!

Pawning UNC off on the Summit (baseball just moved there) would be more ideal. To their credit, they finally ponied up the money to make a splashy hire at HC so at least they are trying.

 

[superhornet]

I'd still rather get a few I-AAA schools (UOP, Long Beach, UCSB, etc.) here in the West to resurrect football at the FCS level so we can resurrect the PCAA. That would leave us a decent sized Big Sky to be an easy OOC partner so we don't have to spend a ton getting home-and-homes with the Austin Peays of the world. For reasons I've already dictated ad nauseam both here and at CS, I abhor the FBS model. I would much prefer to stay here....

 

[Kadeezy]

Sam Houston State and Jacksonville State leaving FCS for Conference USA.

Most interesting not affecting Hornets is that FBS independent New Mexico State is leaving the WAC and joining Conference USA as a full member. This has huge impact on Hornet Baseball.

 

[GreenArmySwarm]

Sam Houston State and Jacksonville State leaving FCS for Conference USA.

Most interesting not affecting Hornets is that FBS independent New Mexico State is leaving the WAC and joining Conference USA as a full member. This has huge impact on Hornet Baseball.

Been saying this for a long time. Baseball should go back to the Big West. We might not win as many games but if our program is a good as it advertised itself to be, then it shouldn’t be a problem. Reduce that travel cost, play against natural rivals and in a better conference. If BigWest takes us, should be a no brainer here