Conference USA to Add 4 Teams

[Water Pony]

Sad prospects for CUSA, who struggles to retain and qualify FBS football as a sport, as they are likely to invite Liberty, NM State, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb ... entnewsntp

[mustangxc]

If that is true they need to go with the hybrid model inviting UConn and UMass for football only and grabbing Grand Canyon and maybe a few others for basketball only. It could be a better conference than what it has been if they do that.

[PlanoStang]

If Sam Houston joins, would that make them FBS?

[Charleston Pony]

If Sam Houston joins, would that make them FBS?

Yes; SHSU would have to move up to FBS for that to happen. Last time I checked, they were still ranked # 1 in FCS and have been on a roll in recent years

[Charleston Pony]

Sad prospects for CUSA, who struggles to retain and qualify FBS football as a sport, as they are likely to invite Liberty, NM State, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb ... entnewsntp

A little surprised the haven't offered UConn and UMass for football only

[Big Hoss]

A little surprised the haven't offered UConn and UMass for football only

Maybe because they’re terrible? It makes sense structurally, but that’s it.

[Charleston Pony]

A little surprised the haven't offered UConn and UMass for football only

Maybe because they’re terrible? It makes sense structurally, but that’s it.

It's a given that CUSA will be the worst FBS conference so at this point it's more about survival at the D-I FBS level

[SMUstang]

This isn't set in stone yet. We are still waiting to see what Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky do. And UT Arlington and UA Little Rock.

[Charleston Pony]

This isn't set in stone yet. We are still waiting to see what Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky do. And UT Arlington and UA Little Rock.

I would guess that WKU & MTSU would jump on MAC invites, just as UTEP & NMSU would jump on MWC invites if the MAC and MWC wanted to expand. La Tech has to be wondering what they did to earn the mess they find themselves in.

[EastStang]

I'd have added La. Tech to AAC. They bring fans to games in Dallas and would also do so in New Orleans. However, Tulane may have blackballed them.

[Charleston Pony]

I'd have added La. Tech to AAC. They bring fans to games in Dallas and would also do so in New Orleans. However, Tulane may have blackballed them.

La Tech has as strong or stronger an athletic program than those invited but Ruston doesn't exactly fit the AAC's "Metro" model. They remain a good non-conference opponent for SMU

[SMUstang]

This isn't set in stone yet. We are still waiting to see what Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky do. And UT Arlington and UA Little Rock.

I would guess that WKU & MTSU would jump on MAC invites, just as UTEP & NMSU would jump on MWC invites if the MAC and MWC wanted to expand. La Tech has to be wondering what they did to earn the mess they find themselves in.

I don't think that WKU & MTSU to the MAC is a given. They don't recruit up north, and they have very few athletes from north of Kentucky. I think their programs would suffer in the MAC. And I have heard that the MAC wanted WKU and an eastern team like UMass for all sports, which UMass would not agree to. The MAC has no use for MTSU.

[Water Pony]

11/5/21

Conference USA will add four new members in Liberty, New Mexico State, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State, sources with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic’s Chris Vannini. The schools are expected to begin play in the league in 2023.

[SMUstang]

With the above additions and MTSU and WKU possibly staying, C-USA would be a decent 9 team conference with a couple of good FBS football teams and a very good basketball conference overall. And they could also add UTA and UALR for basketball later.

[mustangxc]

New Mexico State, Western Kentucky, and UTEP is a solid lineup for basketball. Liberty as their anchor for football could keep them in the NY6 discussion. Pretty solid additions considering the circumstances.