Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[Fishy]

That would make sense then, a step up for both football and basketball. Ohio U would be a good option too, largest school behind Buffalo with good football and basketball.

I kinda think they should consider staying where they are.

The MAC is like the last coherent, regional all-sports conference where you can actually develop a rivalry with nearly every other school. (Okay, no one is developing a rivalry with UMass, but still.)

That conference just works.

 

[WrenchFan69]

 

[XStorrsion]

Poor UTEP and New Mexico St still can't get a MW invite

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Poor UTEP and New Mexico St still can't get a MW invite

“Poor” overall athletic departments and regions financially, yes both may be significant factors. Well, aside from minimalist athletic brands and other considerations.

 

[noeynox]

“Poor” overall athletic departments and regions financially, yes both may be significant factors. Well, aside from minimalist athletic brands and other considerations.

Our last loss in the NCAA tournament came to New Mexico State. Never forget!

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Our last loss in the NCAA tournament came to New Mexico State. Never forget!

Not forgotten, and doesn’t not change any of the prior widely accepted info.

 

[Bongo Fury]

They are neighbors and likely rivals . Could be a package deal somewhere.

 

[huskymedic]

Sun Belt leaders discussing possible Texas State departure

Sun Belt officials are preparing for the possibility Texas State leaves the conference sources told the Daily News-Record on Saturday.

www.dnronline.com

-> Western Kentucky would seem like a logical candidate. The Hilltoppers have been consistently solid in multiple sports, including football and men's basketball, and had been rumored within the past few years to have pursued a spot in the MAC along with rival Middle Tennessee State.

WKU is also a geographic fit that would actually tighten the footprint of the Sun Belt’s West Division if it replaced Texas State. The Hilltoppers have an athletic budget around $40 million per year, which is on par with several Sun Belt members.

Middle Tennessee checks some of the same boxes and is a mid-major power in women’s basketball, though has not been as successful recently in football or men’s basketball. Jacksonville State, Florida International and Sam Houston all also fit the Sun Belt footprint to varying degrees, though FIU would fit better in the East Division and Jacksonville State and Sam Houston are recent FCS callups.

Then there are Liberty and Louisiana Tech, who are logical fits for the conference in some ways, but would likely get push back from some members and certainly from several Sun Belt fan bases.

Liberty would give the Sun Belt three teams in Virginia and fit best in the East Division. It's also a private religious school that has dealt with multiple scandals in recent years while the current Sun Belt is all public schools.

Louisiana Tech would be the third SBC school in Louisiana if it joined, and neighbors Louisiana-Monroe. But there has historically been bad blood between Louisiana Tech and several long-time SBC members, fueled in part by former Tech AD Tommy McClelland saying in 2020 his school was above membership in the Sun Belt.

However, sources late Saturday night told the Daily News-Record that with new faces in charge at Louisiana Tech, there may not be significant pushback against the Bulldogs from Sun Belt West schools.

Western Kentucky could likely get a recommendation from the conference commissioner’s office to the league presidents if a Sun Belt slot opens in the coming days. But Louisiana, with its Lafayette campus a 10-hour drive away from Bowling Green, Ky., may be among schools more likely to push for Louisiana Tech. <-

 

[ZooCougar]

Sun Belt for Football only might be fun.

 

[noeynox]

 

[JMick]

Good for us. One less potential PAC target off the board. Hopefully they can only get to 8 full time members.

 

[KryHavok]

Wow, so the SBC loses it's western flank in Texas State while the MWC gains an eastern flank with that acquisition. Hah, if they merged, that would be one strong coast-to-coast G5.

+

=profit?

 

[Kolumbo]

I saw that earlier today but many of the comments suggest this guy isn't very reliable.

Nevertheless, I was curious what the odds are that Texas State accepts. It could wait for the PAC or choose to stay in the SBC. I'd take the Sun Belt but we don't know what the MWC will be offering.

Realignment Super Thread

Getting into the AAC with other Texas teams is my first choice. I would rather just wait for an opening there. The SBC is good enough that we can continue to build our brand and athletic department spending. When the spot opens, just jump on it with an improved resume. We would feel dumb if a...

maroonandgolden.com

 

[noeynox]

I saw that earlier today but many of the comments suggest this guy isn't very reliable.

Nevertheless, I was curious what the odds are that Texas State accepts. It could wait for the PAC or choose to stay in the SBC. I'd take the Sun Belt but we don't know what the MWC will be offering.

Realignment Super Thread

Getting into the AAC with other Texas teams is my first choice. I would rather just wait for an opening there. The SBC is good enough that we can continue to build our brand and athletic department spending. When the spot opens, just jump on it with an improved resume. We would feel dumb if a...

maroonandgolden.com

I'm guessing its close to double the money.

 

[Khal Drogo]

Someone should tell Dave Benedict not to even mention Horsebarn Hill as an option for a football stadium on campus. There could be a massive protest by those who want to keep it pristine. There are so many other locations if the go-ahead is given.

Build it near intersection of Route 32 and Route 44

 

[CL82]

Build it near intersection of Route 32 and Route 44

Again, if you're going to undertake the time and expense to build an "on campus stadium", maybe it makes sense to actually build it on campus?

 

[Hogoff]

Sun Belt for Football only might be fun.

I agree. I’d be at every game in Myrtle, Boone, and Atlanta. They are all within 4 hours from me.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Rufus]

The Mountain West grabbing UTEP and Texas State makes sense. They should also grab New Mexico State while they are at it. Already in the footprint and an obvious choice. I know they don't move the needle --- but neither does UTEP or Texas State.

 

[Chonky]

So……
Who does the PAC think they are going to get? MWC is taking all the viable teams in the region.

 

[milards]

So……
Who does the PAC think they are going to get? MWC is taking all the viable teams in the region.

The entire country is the region in this stupid nonsense.

 

[Vowelguy]

So……
Who does the PAC think they are going to get? MWC is taking all the viable teams in the region.

This was another reason the PAC botched this. They needed to take enough teams so that the MW was left for dead. Instead they allowed a close competitor to survive and nab schools they would’ve wanted.

 

[Chonky]

This was another reason the PAC botched this. They needed to take enough teams so that the MW was left for dead. Instead they allowed a close competitor to survive and nab schools they would’ve wanted.

Yeah. It seems like they were overly confident in their position yet again. Sitting in their laurels while MWC snatched thre programs they figured would always be there for them.

 

[Vowelguy]

Why does the SunBelt need to add a school? They’ve got 13 if Tx St leaves. Neither LaTech nor WKU move the needle, have notable programs, nor are located in significant markets.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Why does the SunBelt need to add a school? They’ve got 13 if Tx St leaves. Neither LaTech nor WKU move the needle, have notable programs, nor are located in significant markets.

They don't need to, but they currently have divisions and may want to keep the divisions.