Shocked...Conference USA

[EWU98]

I am absolutely shocked that Sam Houston joined....their fan base is brutal. You win a Natty and your off to the big time...what a waste.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32560304/conference-usa-add-liberty-jacksonville-state-new-mexico-state-sam-houston-state-beginning-2023

 

[LDopaPDX]

I can understand James Madison's choice to move up, because jumping into the Sun Belt isn't a bad place. But Conference USA? It's practically dead on arrival. With all of their defections, it's the lowest of low so far as FBS conferences go.

Frankly, I just don't like FBS football for non-Power 5 teams. It's almost like you play for nothing. Some no-name bowl game that draws 300,000 viewers on a Tuesday night doesn't have a lot of appeal to me as a destination. It feels like the lesser conferences could work together to build their own playoff and make it a more profitable, supportable arrangement. With Cincinnati getting shown no love this season, it's fair to say a Group of 5 team never has any hope of actually playing for a title at the big table.

 

[luckyintheorder]

I can understand James Madison's choice to move up, because jumping into the Sun Belt isn't a bad place. But Conference USA? It's practically dead on arrival. With all of their defections, it's the lowest of low so far as FBS conferences go.

Frankly, I just don't like FBS football for non-Power 5 teams. It's almost like you play for nothing. Some no-name bowl game that draws 300,000 viewers on a Tuesday night doesn't have a lot of appeal to me as a destination. It feels like the lesser conferences could work together to build their own playoff and make it a more profitable, supportable arrangement. With Cincinnati getting shown no love this season, it's fair to say a Group of 5 team never has any hope of actually playing for a title at the big table.

These were pretty much my same thoughts. At least JMU knows what to expect after seeing App St and Ga Southern make the move a few years ago, but the Conf USA move is definitely an unknown. Liberty could have done better than Conf USA IMO.

Hard to believe Keeler was a fan of that move for SHSU unless there's a hefty raise in it for him. Jax St fans drink too much water with lead in it so am sure it makes sense for them.

My wife expressed a similar thought about just playing for a low level bowl. We are talking about at least three perennial FCS contenders. BigSky can absolutely benefit from those "defections" but needs to keep pace with MVC. Fan bases are goofy.

 

[clawman1]

No doubt these moves seem like moving backward to different scenery. As a fan I have enjoyed the playoff system rather the no-name bowl challenge.
I have to think these schools have been in talks with those that moved years ago and getting positive feedback thus the rush to $hi^^y conferences.