Aresco Says AAC Will Expand

[SMU_Alum11]

I feel Memphis our last good partner to get out of the G5. If Memphis leaves, our only hope is if the AAC truly can acquire enough to be considered P6.

If Big12 wants to be predatory, they would take Memphis and Boise State now. Unfortunately, they feel they can ignore SMU. I share what Memphis and SMU should have common cause, but apparently it is every school for themselves.

So, SMU becomes the last touchstone for American Athletic Conference. With that prospect and the unlikelihood that Big12 will invite us, we become the leader of AAC. Given this role, we need to be the thoughtful in restructuring the conference. If Aresco fills in from the East, it is hard to get excited about it; although I do like UAB and Army.

Our option would be to go West with Air Force and Colorado State, both on the Front Range and in the MT. Next, Boise State and San Diego, but if either or both hesitate, I would take two other MWC school, e.g. Fresno State and Nevada. This would gut MWC and force BSU and SDSU to pursue Big 12 and PAC12 respectively. The end result is a AAC that remains the best of the rest of the G5. BTW, I would purse Gonzaga, which might give Memphis reasons to stay and build a strong BB conference too.

Personally if we are the best out there and we know it, we should either consider independent and try to negotiate something with ESPN or see if we can dissolve the AAC with a new conference with the top consistent teams. Personally I like the independent route if you can get connections to play every old SWC + Memphis teams non-conference. That would keep travel down but might be hard to get home games. Maybe we could even try a hybrid like ND where we have to play x number of conference games and still schedule our old SWC.

The only other hope that more realistic is burning the AAC down and pulling the top remaining of MWC and half of AAC or other top teams in the G3 (e.g. coastal carolina).

Either way if Boise and Memphis leave, the world will feel pretty bleak. We would have to root for the Big 10 poaching the legacy Big 8 remainders.

[SMUstang]

Cheer up - We're not dependent on Boise or Memphis. We're better than both.

[peruna81]

Let's not limit ourselves here...let's invite TCU so they CAN'T cancel any more games...

[Water Pony]

Yahoo Sports: From top to bottom, conference realignment is gripping college sports. Here's what's next.

"The Texas/Oklahoma move didn't just shake up the SEC’s peer leagues; the effect is being felt all the way through the Football Bowl Subdivision down to the lower levels of Division I."

https://www.yahoo.com/now/top-bottom-co ... 49648.html

[birddogger]

Let's not limit ourselves here...let's invite TCU so they CAN'T cancel any more games...

The Perfect Troll. Put this on the TCU twitter feed, please!

[EastStang]

To show the lack of strength in the Big XII and us as well, our TV ratings against TCU were 186K viewers. Now true it was on FS1 which is not on every cable system, but clearly not great ratings. BYU/USF drew 491K on ESPN 2. Interesting Marshall/App State drew 1.01 Million viewers, but that was 7:30 pm. on ESPN. Coastal Carolina v. Buffalo on ESPN2 two weeks ago drew 285K for a noon game. Boise v. USU got 804K viewers. Now to the Big XII credit the Fox network game with Baylor -Iowa State drew 2.012 viewers. So access to viewers matters (strength of network), game time matters and teams matter. The TV suits try to figure this out in offering contracts to conferences. Clearly Boise is a possible good target.

[JasonB]

To show the lack of strength in the Big XII and us as well, our TV ratings against TCU were 186K viewers. Now true it was on FS1 which is not on every cable system, but clearly not great ratings. BYU/USF drew 491K on ESPN 2. Interesting Marshall/App State drew 1.01 Million viewers, but that was 7:30 pm. on ESPN. Coastal Carolina v. Buffalo on ESPN2 two weeks ago drew 285K for a noon game. Boise v. USU got 804K viewers. Now to the Big XII credit the Fox network game with Baylor -Iowa State drew 2.012 viewers. So access to viewers matters (strength of network), game time matters and teams matter. The TV suits try to figure this out in offering contracts to conferences. Clearly Boise is a possible good target.

Last week the FS1 noon game, WVU vs VT got 900K. Week before OK St - Tulsa got 300K. Stan-K State also got 300K.

It isn't a great time slot to be in, nor is it a great network. But we were half the size we need to be in order to claim the Dallas market. Still have a ways to go. The good news is that if/when we ever get there, we will have a lot better options than the Big 12.

[Water Pony]

To show the lack of strength in the Big XII and us as well, our TV ratings against TCU were 186K viewers. Now true it was on FS1 which is not on every cable system, but clearly not great ratings. BYU/USF drew 491K on ESPN 2. Interesting Marshall/App State drew 1.01 Million viewers, but that was 7:30 pm. on ESPN. Coastal Carolina v. Buffalo on ESPN2 two weeks ago drew 285K for a noon game. Boise v. USU got 804K viewers. Now to the Big XII credit the Fox network game with Baylor -Iowa State drew 2.012 viewers. So access to viewers matters (strength of network), game time matters and teams matter. The TV suits try to figure this out in offering contracts to conferences. Clearly Boise is a possible good target.

Last week the FS1 noon game, WVU vs VT got 900K. Week before OK St - Tulsa got 300K. Stan-K State also got 300K.

It isn't a great time slot to be in, nor is it a great network. But we were half the size we need to be in order to claim the Dallas market. Still have a ways to go. The good news is that if/when we ever get there, we will have a lot better options than the Big 12.

JasonB, I like your thinking. We may be happier to play a long game on possible options. If we build on our current results and reestablish our brand in a major media and recruiting market, SMU could be the university other major conferences want to pursue vs. us having to say "look at us."

[JasonB]

Just as importantly, I would point out that TCU can't fill their stadium on their own, and that they didn't bring a lot of viewers either. This is why any reports that the PAC12 wants TCU are a joke.

What it comes down to is whether or not conferences are looking to expand in order to raise the floor, or if they are looking to raise the ceiling.

The Big 12 is in a situation where they needed to add teams in order to raise the floor- raise the baseline of people who will watch games. That is why they chose to add 4 teams that have larger alumni bases. Even if the teams don't perform well on the field, there will be a good amount of people who will watch the games as alumni. It establishes a solid floor for negotiation with content providers.

Other conferences will be in a position where they want to raise the ceiling. They don't need an SMU and a large alumni base to build a better floor. The floor is already there, and very solid. Instead, those conferences are going to want to raise the ceiling. They know they can ADD more to the ceiling if SMU is successful enough to bring the Dallas market.

It isn't going to happen in a short period of time. It will take a long period of sustained success. But if we keep investing in the program, coaching staff, stipends, and NIL, it will eventually happen and SMU will be part of the ACC, Big 10 or PAC 12.

[Lotus]

Let's not limit ourselves here...let's invite TCU so they CAN'T cancel any more games...

Brilliant.

[EastStang]

The ACC has to be very concerned this year. Clemson is not the world beater it was for the past five years. Its bellweathers, FSU, MIami, GT, UNC, VT are not world beaters. Instead teams like Louisville, Wake Forest and NC State are playing well which are not big draws in football. At least Clemson will not be itching to join the SEC for now, but who knows down the road. I strongly believe that if any offer comes to SMU from a P5 Conference it will be the ACC or a more watered down Big XII.

[Water Pony]

The ACC has to be very concerned this year. Clemson is not the world beater it was for the past five years. Its bellweathers, FSU, MIami, GT, UNC, VT are not world beaters. Instead teams like Louisville, Wake Forest and NC State are playing well which are not big draws in football. At least Clemson will not be itching to join the SEC for now, but who knows down the road. I strongly believe that if any offer comes to SMU from a P5 Conference it will be the ACC or a more watered down Big XII.

I struggle to imagine the Big12 viewing SMU as an added benefit. To use JasonB's analogy, we neither raise the floor or ceiling (at the moment) for them.

However, ACC and PAC12 should view us differently with an entrance into the rich SW market and its Central Time Zone media window. This raises the ceiling for them and "plants their conference flag" ;-D in the Big12 market.

[birddogger]

I really believe no one will court us until we make a couple of NY6 bowl games and create a t-shirt fan base. We don't move the needle much otherwise. Our time in the AAC, where we have a realistic shot at conference championships, is the best way to get noticed and promoted.

Obtaining AAU status or Top 50 status would also help, but this has been discussed before at length. At least it wouldn't give the BIG or PAC an excuse not to invite us.

[Water Pony]

I really believe no one will court us until we make a couple of NY6 bowl games and create a t-shirt fan base. We don't move the needle much otherwise. Our time in the AAC, where we have a realistic shot at conference championships, is the best way to get noticed and promoted.

Obtaining AAU status or Top 50 status would also help, but this has been discussed before at length. At least it wouldn't give the BIG or PAC an excuse not to invite us.

Plus, University Presidents do look at a school's endowment. As of June 2020, our endowment was an estimated $2bm. Our newest fund raising campaign targets an additional $1.5bn. That's some serious cash and places us well within the Top Hundred School endowments.

SMU Ignited / Boldly Shaping Tomorrow

https://www.smu.edu/ignited

[SMU_Alum11]

I really believe no one will court us until we make a couple of NY6 bowl games and create a t-shirt fan base. We don't move the needle much otherwise. Our time in the AAC, where we have a realistic shot at conference championships, is the best way to get noticed and promoted.

Obtaining AAU status or Top 50 status would also help, but this has been discussed before at length. At least it wouldn't give the BIG or PAC an excuse not to invite us.

Plus, University Presidents do look at a school's endowment. As of June 2020, our endowment was an estimated $2bm. Our newest fund raising campaign targets an additional $1.5bn. That's some serious cash and places us well within the Top Hundred School endowments.

SMU Ignited / Boldly Shaping Tomorrow

https://www.smu.edu/ignited

Might have been part of turner's strategy in those past years was to build up the endowment, now that we are raising our profile, it will help accelerate that plan and get us attention from the other P5s, to Jason's point, get the Dallas market. Sadly though, it's going to be hard to imagine a PAC12, Big 10 or ACC offer because of proximity. None of those conferences have schools in the nearby area. The only conference that I could see is the Big12 but maybe needing schools nearby isn't a big deal?