2015 divisions for "The American"

[Charleston Pony]

Tuberville would probably prefer to have UC play in the western division so they can make an annual appearance in Texas, assuming he will recruit there...not to mention the fact that if we don't step up our game, he might have a better chance to win the west and play in the championship game

[East Coast Mustang]

Has there been any formal announcement on what the divisions will be for 2015?

[blackoutpony]

Has there been any formal announcement on what the divisions will be for 2015?

Yup

"What the Hell Happened?" Division
Cincinnati
USF
UConn
UCF
SMU
Houston

"What the F@ck Are They Doing Here? " Division
ECU
Tulsa
Temple
Memphis
Tulane


*Navy will maintain it's historical independence by abstaining from the divisions while still being in the conference. It makes them look better

**Teams in italics barely qualify as football teams

[Stallion]

I don't believe that's accurate-no way they put all the Texas and Florida schools in one Division plus Cincy and UCONN. I'd love that to be the case though

[PonySnob]

Hard to see the conference ever having more than one team in the top 25 for football......and even that might be a reach.

[StallionsModelT]

Cincinnati has been in the top ten and been to a BCS bowl
UConn has been in the Top 25
UCF has been in the Top 25
Houston has been in the Top 25
USF has been in the Top 10
Tulsa has been in the Top 25

All are relatively recent as well.

[feelthehorsepower]

Cincinnati has been in the top ten and been to a BCS bowl
UConn has been in the Top 25
UCF has been in the Top 25
Houston has been in the Top 25
USF has been in the Top 10
Tulsa has been in the Top 25

All are relatively recent as well.

This can actually become a Power Conference if those teams you mentioned as well as SMU become top 25 programs.

[feelthehorsepower]

Cincinnati has been in the top ten and been to a BCS bowl
UConn has been in the Top 25
UCF has been in the Top 25
Houston has been in the Top 25
USF has been in the Top 10
Tulsa has been in the Top 25

All are relatively recent as well.

This can actually become a Power Conference if those teams you mentioned as well as SMU become top 25 programs.

Then we just schedule a permanent series with TCU as well as add Boise State and BYU into the AAC...now that would be a good conference to be in....or most likely this will happen:

New Big 12 Conference:
SMU
TCU
Baylor
West Virginia
Iowa State
Houston
Cincinnati
UCF
BYU
Boise State
Florida State
U Miami

Leave Big 12:
Texas (Independent)
OU (Pac 12)
OSU (Pac 12)
Texas Tech (SEC)
Kansas (Big Ten)
Kansas st. (Big Ten)

[East Coast Mustang]

FTHP- please stop

[StallionsModelT]

LOL. That scenario is never going to happen.

The best and most realistic option for The American and SMU is some kind of "best of the rest" merger w/ the MWC. Of course it would be nice for us to actually be at or near the top of the conference in football for this to ensure we make it. I think the following would make for a very competitive and compelling conference in both football and basketball:

West - SDSU, Fresno State, Boise State, Nevada, Colo State, AFA, Tulsa, UNM

East - UConn, Cincinnati, Navy, USF, UCF, Memphis, SMU, Houston,

[Stallion]

UCONN went to BCS Bowl as well

[East Coast Mustang]

LOL. That scenario is never going to happen.

The best and most realistic option for The American and SMU is some kind of "best of the rest" merger w/ the MWC. Of course it would be nice for us to actually be at or near the top of the conference in football for this to ensure we make it. I think the following would make for a very competitive and compelling conference in both football and basketball:

West - SDSU, Fresno State, Boise State, Nevada, Colo State, AFA, Tulsa, UNM

East - UConn, Cincinnati, Navy, USF, UCF, Memphis, SMU, Houston,

At 16 teams it might be easier to go with four, 4-team pods.

East- UConn, Cincy, USF, UCF
South- Navy, Memphis, SMU, UH
Central- Tulsa, Air Force, CSU, UNM (I'd rather have BYU than UNM though)
West- SDSU, Fresno, Boise, Nevada

Each team would play each team in its pod, two out of pod permanent rivals (Tulsa could be one of ours) and one remaining team from each pod for a total of eight conference games. Then you could do an 11 game regular season schedule and 2-game, 4-team tournament to determine the conference champ (East v South, Central v West).

[East Coast Mustang]

That idea was a lot cooler when considered for a hypothetical 16 team SEC, though.

[Stallion]

there still may be some value in becoming the Next Best Conference because that means you aren't the worst. Recruits would likely rather play for the higher profile conference giving SMU credibility against the growing number of Sun Belt/CUSA programs.

[East Coast Mustang]

there still may be some value in becoming the Next Best Conference because that means you aren't the worst. Recruits would likely rather play for the higher profile conference giving SMU credibility against the growing number of Sun Belt/CUSA programs.

True, and if we can offer more playing time that could be attractive as well