USF…. (Merged threads)

[UConnTrumbull]

We really have to ask ourselves what is the end game. Most here agree that the ACC will be raided in the next few years. Do we really think the next iteration of that conference will be worth 20-30 million per school? It would essentially be AAC 2.0/Old Big East merger. I can't even get myself worked up over it anymore. CR takes all of the fun out of college sports. All for what? So the P2 get more money.

 

[Kolumbo]

My point was they won't be a priority to conferences that already have camp setup in Florida. CR is about expanding footprint and reaching new markets. Plus, their Floridian contemporaries will rally against them.

I'm tired of all the CR debates about markets and footprints. Florida is more than 6 times larger than CT by population if state borders are so important. A P4 conference should have more than 1 member in Florida. Cal, Tex, Flo.

Here's an interesting take. # of programs by conference in the 3 most populous states Cal, Flo, Tex:

5 - American
5 - Big XII
5 - ACC
3 - SEC
2 - Big Ten

USF must have some wealthy donors that are paying to have that new stadium built. UConn needs a major donor to step up to build an on campus stadium and build new roads from 84 to campus.

From what I've read, it's all USF funds and includes other campus improvements
USF plays in an NFL stadium just down the street but is still building its own stadium on its crowded campus
UConn plays in a shell college stadium 30 minutes away from campus but can't find a way to build a stadium on a campus with no shortage of land
Perception is reality

 

[huskymedic]

USF must have some wealthy donors that are paying to have that new stadium built.

Here’s how USF says it is funding its stadium

A multi-million dollar loan, student fees and untraceable donations. Those are just three of the seven ways USF says it will be funding its estimated $340-million stadium project, which broke ground earlier this month. The stadium is slated to be completed in 2027. Here’s a breakdown on those...

www.usforacle.com

USF approves $407 million price tag for stadium, related infrastructure

The USF Board of Trustees approved a $407 million expenditure for USF’s 35,000-seat on-campus stadium and other associated projects during a Tuesday meeting. The stadium will cost $348.5 million. It’s a slight jump from the previous price of $340 million the board approved in June 2023. The...

www.usforacle.com

 

[CTBballfan243]

I want to be wrong, but 15 years of watching CR pass us up time and again made me think they don't want to expand to our area otherwise they would have already done so. The all cretins crew have the fruit and BCU, they don't need the another northeast state that's in between. And the Big12, they are digging into their southwest mentality despite having Cinci, West Virginia, and UCF...they might not mind getting a northeast presence to get NY views, but as the last 2 years of CR showed, they DON'T want to expand with us. If/when I am wrong I will happily admit it.

I think once the P2 pick their final teams for their respective conferences that UConn will have a good shot to be one of the teams that will backfill. Plus there is a good chance that Louisville and Pitt go to the B12 when UNC, Clemson, FSU, virginia(???) go to the B1G 10 and SEC. The ACC may need quite a few teams. UConn will be one of the teams in the running for a spot in the ACC.

 

[cellocgg]

USF plays in an NFL stadium just down the street but is still building its own stadium on its crowded campus
UConn plays in a shell college stadium 30 minutes away from campus but can't find a way to build a stadium on a campus with no shortage of land
Perception is reality

I still don't understand why the on-canpus stadium is apparently so important for CR. There are other P4s without one. Would ours still be a problem if we were selling out? We were at one point and nobody was complaining about it. We just had record attendance since 2013, I don't see why we couldn't have regular sellouts in a few years

 

[CTBballfan243]

I'm tired of all the CR debates about markets and footprints. Florida is more than 6 times larger than CT by population if state borders are so important. A P4 conference should have more than 1 member in Florida. Cal, Tex, Flo.

Here's an interesting take. # of programs by conference in the 3 most populous states Cal, Flo, Tex:

5 - American
5 - Big XII
5 - ACC
3 - SEC
2 - Big Ten


From what I've read, it's all USF funds and includes other campus improvements
USF plays in an NFL stadium just down the street but is still building its own stadium on its crowded campus
UConn plays in a shell college stadium 30 minutes away from campus but can't find a way to build a stadium on a campus with no shortage of land
Perception is reality

So they have the land for the stadium. Now they just need to start fund raising. The project at UConn will probable exceed 1 billion, once you include the costs of designing, permitting, and constructing the roads from 84 to campus. UConn needs to start fund raising and saving.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Other fan bases mock UConn for the situation and it adds to the perception that UConn isn't committed to football 100%. You can't compare UConn to UCLA and Miami. UConn is in no situation to be an exception to the rule. Sure it would be different if UConn were already in the club.

UConn should just build a dorm and a building or two a Rentschler Field, make it part of the Hartford Campus. Then the could say that they have an on campus stadium. It would a whole lot cheaper then building a new stadium in Storrs.

 

[Kolumbo]

I still don't understand why the on-canpus stadium is apparently so important for CR. There are other P4s without one. Would ours still be a problem if we were selling out? We were at one point and nobody was complaining about it. We just had record attendance since 2013, I don't see why we couldn't have regular sellouts in a few years

Other fan bases mock UConn for the situation and it adds to the perception that UConn isn't committed to football 100%. You can't compare UConn to UCLA and Miami. UConn is in no situation to be an exception to the rule. Sure it would be different if UConn were already in the club.

I've thought about this. UConn could try something to support its unorthodox approach to facilities. A marketing approach.

"UConn is a Big Time University. Connecticut is the 29th ranked state by population and the 48th state by land
Connecticut is UConn's campus" 😉

 

[ZooCougar]

If expansion ever gets rolling again….they’re gonna be an issue for us.

It won’t be an issue because we likely aren’t being considered anyways.

 

[ZooCougar]

Reminder that UConn tops the G5 in revenue, the metric that actually matters in CR, and the next closest is like $25M short

Winning a game in Gainesville isn't getting USF into a conference. They've had great seasons before. Y'all sound silly

If it mattered we would be in a P4 right now.

The next time you are right about something will also be the first time.

 

[UConnJim]

USF: $71M
UConn: $93M (Bottom-P5 level)

The USF numbers are outdated as they have considerably increased athletics spending for 2024 and 2025. They know that the time is now as conference realignment will heat up in a few years and they want a better landing spot. That said, USF men's basketball has never finished a season ranked which is a big negative.

 

[huskymedic]

USF: $71M
UConn: $93M (Bottom-P5 level)

“The revenue figures are from the Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics Data Analysis and the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for the fiscal year 2023.”

So what are the 2025 figures? That was the first result on Google when I searched for 2025, and the article was last updated in January

FY24 is the last year reported - they are in FY25 currently:

-> UConn released the financial data on Wednesday. The school reported $105,579,698 in revenue and $100,969,851 in expenses for fiscal year 2024, when it continued to operate at levels required to compete nationally across the board despite living outside the lucrative world of power conferences. <-

Here some insight on USF growth:

-> USF’s athletic spending ballooned to $95.4 million in 2024, according to financial records.<-

 

[B1GEast]

It's one game, congrats to USF, but honestly, let the season play out and they probably lose to Navy.

If the ACC back fills with USF that's not a conference anyone is going to be excited about.

The ACC soon might have a lot of holes to fill and we'll probably be one of those teams along with Memphis, but USF is not getting into the 10, 12 or SEC.

I don't get why everyone is making this out to be something huge, last year Memphis beat Florida State in a down year, nobody was knocking on their door.

The college football landscape is going to look very different. No one really knows what will happen.

 

[AllHusky]

respectfully, I said nothing of syracuse and this past weekend.

to clarify, I am saying these guys are ranked. they did it by beating 2 solid football brands back-to-back, whose names carry weight. To me, that is a big deal and something you can absolutely put in your resume book next time your AD calls a P4 conference commish, asking for a sit-down with them.

Even if they lose the ranking later this year, to have gotten it at all is still noteworthy and surely something USF will milk the heck out of, should they be lucky enough to get into a room with the ACC or Big12.

USF was ranked #2 in national poll in week 6 of 2007 under Leavitt. They are not a Johnny come lately. They have been in and around a breakthrough for awhile. UCF hurdled them to get inside track for P4/5/6 membership into the B12.

 

[Kolumbo]

It's one game, congrats to USF, but honestly, let the season play out and they probably lose to Navy.

If the ACC back fills with USF that's not a conference anyone is going to be excited about.

The ACC soon might have a lot of holes to fill and we'll probably be one of those teams along with Memphis, but USF is not getting into the 10, 12 or SEC.

I don't get why everyone is making this out to be something huge, last year Memphis beat Florida State in a down year, nobody was knocking on their door.

The college football landscape is going to look very different. No one really knows what will happen.

This is a very bizarre post

If UConn beat the likes of a Florida, we would be over the top ecstatic! We would hold a damn parade! We would absolutely lose our freaking minds!!!

If the ACC gets to the point where it backfills with UConn, we will be excited but it won't be a conference anyone else is going to be excited about. USF is not a worse addition than UConn and if/when UConn gets invited to the ACC, it is going to be a glorified American Conference. We will be excited because it will include other cast-offs cuse, bcu, wake.....

I could see USF being invited to the Big XII. In fact, I think the Big XII is asleep at the switch for not already inviting USF. When the dust settles, the Big XII and USF will be fine.

Memphis is another program who is likely ahead of UConn for an invitation. Memphis is in the SEC footprint and investing in football.

 

[KembaKek]

What an exhausting thread.

 

[B1GEast]

This is a very bizarre post

If UConn beat the likes of a Florida, we would be over the top ecstatic! We would hold a damn parade! We would absolutely lose our freaking minds!!!

If the ACC gets to the point where it backfills with UConn, we will be excited but it won't be a conference anyone else is going to be excited about. USF is not a worse addition than UConn and if/when UConn gets invited to the ACC, it is going to be a glorified American Conference. We will be excited because it will include other cast-offs cuse, bcu, wake.....

I could see USF being invited to the Big XII. In fact, I think the Big XII is asleep at the switch for not already inviting USF. When the dust settles, the Big XII and USF will be fine.

Memphis is another program who is likely ahead of UConn for an invitation. Memphis is in the SEC footprint and investing in football.

We beat Notre Dame in South Bend. Big programs losing to smaller ones happens every once in a while, but it doesn't typically propel the smaller program as much as is embarrasses the bigger program.

In 07, Michigan got beat by Appalachian State, what ever happened to them?

I get that it's a big deal, it really is, but in the grand scheme of college football the lines have already been drawn.

Let USF enjoy their victory, they earned it, but let's also be real, it's good publicity for them, they can beat their chests, I don't think it's going to open many doors unless they go undefeated this year, go to a major bowl and beat another big conference team. Like I said, they might lose to Navy. We'll see.

 

[dvegas]

There's more FBS talent within a 10 mile radius of the USF campus than in all of New England, advantage Bulls

 

[Kowalski]

USF was ranked #2 in national poll in week 6 of 2007 under Leavitt. They are not a Johnny come lately. They have been in and around a breakthrough for awhile. UCF hurdled them to get inside track for P4/5/6 membership into the B12.

USF is the obvious ACC backfill if Miami gets poached by the SEC OR B1G. But if it’s not a backfill for Miami scenario, I think UConn (assuming FB keeps improving) or Memphis would still have the inside track over them for B12 or ACC expansion.

But until the next realignment happens, USF benefits from being in a G5 conference, even if the conference is mediocre. They’re in the driver’s seat now for the automatic G5 playoff spot - just that prospect gives them a big advantage for national exposure & recruiting.

 

[Hoophound]

The big issue with USF is they will be out a coach if they keep this up all season. They will never be able to keep him. We’ve seen it a million times.

 

[Kolumbo]

whos every once in a while, but it doesn't typically propel the smaller program as much as is embarrasses the bigger program.

In 07, Michigan got beat by Appalachian State, what ever happened to them?

I get that it's a big deal, it really is, but in the grand scheme of college football the lines have already been drawn.

Let USF enjoy their victory, they earned it, but let's also be real, it's good publicity for them, they can beat their chests, I don't think it's going to open many doors unless they go undefeated this year, go to a major bowl and beat another big conference team. Like I said, they might lose to Navy. We'll see.

Correct, we'll see. USF was ahead of UCF and then UCF came out of nowhere to leapfrog USF. UCF got ranked a couple of times and then broke through with its 13-0 season. It took 6 more seasons to get a Big XII invitation. USF can tell players that Florida and FSU are the old guard but times have changed, a lot. We're a better school than FSU, we compete with P4, Tampa is a better location than Tallahassee or Gainesville, and you can take your brand new MasterCraft down the Gulf any time you'd like. Now if USF beats Miami this weekend...whoa nelly!

 

[businesslawyer]

My point was they won't be a priority to conferences that already have camp setup in Florida. CR is about expanding footprint and reaching new markets. Plus, their Floridian contemporaries will rally against them.

Depends on how you think of markets (and there is not just one way). But forget the state of Florida — the greater Tampa metropolitan area has more people than the entire state of CT (and over 1/4 of nutmeggers are in a different TV market).

 

[Kolumbo]

I didn't see this thread and I was posting over in the Football board. Maybe the threads can be merged, or we just forget about USF.

https://the-boneyard.com/threads/usf-anything-to-learn.209150/

I think if there is any p4 movement, USF is far ahead of everyone and for UConn:

 

[Kolumbo]

even though the announcer don't get the bulls horns up sign

 

[cellocgg]

Depends on how you think of markets (and there is not just one way). But forget the state of Florida — the greater Tampa metropolitan area has more people than the entire state of CT (and over 1/4 of nutmeggers are in a different TV market).

Larger emphasis on the latter part of my original comment. Existing Floridian schools in those conferences will fight hard against USF

UConn (as well as Tulane and Memphis) wouldn't have those strings attached. It's free real estate for the ACC/Big 12

 

[Jetskies]

USF was ranked #2 in national poll in week 6 of 2007 under Leavitt. They are not a Johnny come lately. They have been in and around a breakthrough for awhile. UCF hurdled them to get inside track for P4/5/6 membership into the B12.

respectfully, i believe that their 2007 ranking is not a relevant point - they were in a power conference/ bcs conference back then, so those achievements have nothing to do with their current situation. Same way we made it to a BCS bowl back then too, and look at us now.

the only feathers in a cap that matter toward USF/our candidacies is our accomplishments in this era of college football.

 

[Kolumbo]

and UNLV just won the battle of the initials over UCLA. I doubt it happens but it is Vegas

3. Big 12 Conference Realignment: Go Get UNLV and USF Already​

Big 12, what are you waiting for?

USF was always a great get for expansion and realignment. The Tampa market, a natural I-4 rivalry for UCF, massive enrollment, and now, after the blowout win over Boise State and the shocker at Florida, the football program appears to be ready to go to the CFP as a Group of Five champion.

Meanwhile, UNLV should’ve been a Big 12 program last year. It doesn’t want the Pac-12, it wants the bigger money from the power conference, and it has what everyone seems to want - Las Vegas.

Media days are held there, lots of tournaments, and conference championships are a given. And now, there appears to be staying power with the football program, with Dan Mullen starting 3-0 after a win over UCLA.

5 College Football Takeaways: Kansas State Problems, Big 12 Expansion Ideas, Oklahoma's Win - College Football News | College Football Predictions, Analysis and Updates

Is Kansas State the new 2024 Florida State? What two schools should the Big 12 go grab? Oklahoma got the win it needed to have. 5 College Football Takeaways

collegefootballnews.com

 

[REB1094]

I don’t think there’s anything too complicated to learn from them. It’s as simple as 1) win games, 2) fill seats, 3) spend the resulting money to improve the program

We went from 1-3 win seasons and being a national laughingstock to winning a bowl game and assuming all non-P4 games are free wins (which is a very risky assumption btw). That’s major progress

The next step is to win some of the P4 games too. Syracuse was a great opportunity to do that. We had it, then we threw in the garbage. Not the end of the world, but it sure doesn’t help

Just win games. Do #1, then #2 and #3 will take care of themselves. That’s the easiest way to be set up favorably in CR

 

[cellocgg]

USF attendance against perennial power #25 BSU one year removed from the playoffs, also home opener and playing in the massive Tampa Bay metro: 34,707

UConn home opener attendance against some FCS school: 37,594, largest of the G5

 

[cellocgg]

USF attendance against perennial power #25 BSU one year removed from the playoffs, also home opener and playing in the massive Tampa Bay metro: 34,707

UConn home opener attendance against a nobody FCS school in a college football deadzone: 37,594, largest of the G5