SFA Jack Fanatic said:

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SFA_03 said:

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Personally I would love the addition of McNeese. They're the school in Louisiana with the most upside, and if the FBS goal is real, could honestly help get there. However the financial issue in Louisiana for their schools has been a hot topic, and makes me worry.
Not to mention I always loved the trip to Lake Charles. Not many mid major and FCS cities let you visit a casino after watching quality college athletics.

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McNeese got absolutely throttled by UIW 31-0 yesterday in their first Southland game. UIW is very good.

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McNeese is facing a lot of adversity, but that doesn't change the fact that historically they're an outstanding FCS program and generally have amazing athletics. Don't forget we're not far removed from a losing record in basketball.

This is impressive

We are still over 3️⃣ days away from Midnight Madness and Camp Elliot is already filling up! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/R9kUBO0pKt

— GCU Lopes (@GCU_Lopes) September 29, 2021

Very interesting insights from Matt Brown:
https://www.extrapointsmb.com/mid-major-tv-valuation-conference-realignment-streaming/

TallTexan said:

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Very interesting insights from Matt Brown:
https://www.extrapointsmb.com/mid-major-tv-valuation-conference-realignment-streaming/

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I'd be interested in seeing numbers on how many people are watching SFA events on ESPN+.

Same.

I want to find out how many people watch an SFA football/basketball game on ESPN, how many watch one on WAC digital network, and how many PPVs like Northwestern State sells for a game. Just so we can compare against programs our size.


Honestly, I wonder if it should change our advertising strategy. Pretty sure the schools get a free commercial or two for every event. And they're almost all "new student" oriented.

I think they should probably be "new donor" oriented given the audience that a streaming game attracts is mostly diehard SFA fans. Something like the current commercials, but that ends with "Raise Your Axe, Donate to the SFA PLF today".

If you watch some streams some of these schools really go all out with their advertising mid game. I think it's on the school to post the ads, so I bet SFA could do it.

A few digital presence comments:

The WAC needs a better digital app.
Standard website needs a serious update

It's not official until it's on social media. Welcome our three newest staff members! https://t.co/q1Pd8bXMNq pic.twitter.com/l3EXLEwmQT

— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) October 12, 2021

BigJack85 said:

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A few digital presence comments:

The WAC needs a better digital app.
Standard website needs a serious update

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You aint lying. WAC Digital Network is nice, but almost impossible to stream on ROKU.

Not WAC, but more realignment ideas that may eventually affect us.

https://twitter.com/zach_barnett/status/1448042298923704320?t=i5O5lB0LNbN6VB75dwtLsA&s=19

That said, this one has very little chance of success but shows what a dire position CUSA is in.

This is huge if it happens.

https://twitter.com/ChrisVannini/status/1450242624405786624?t=8YSZXD-NoFtbNvhC9ss-IQ&s=19

None of those teams can replace what Houston Cincinnati and ucf meant to the conference

sfa17 said:

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None of those teams can replace what Houston Cincinnati and ucf meant to the conference

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Not a chance but it leaves CUSA with a gaping hole they cannot easily fill from the FBS ranks.

Check out Matt Brown's latest podcast. A must listen on realignment.

https://www.extrapointsmb.com/aac-conference-realignment-expansion-cusa-utep-sun-belt/

Obviously this leaves CUSA in a tough spot. One suggestion he floated was "why not see about doing a scheduling alliance with the WAC until they can get to the FBS level".

Now you might be wondering, what's in it for CUSA? Well here it is. This is now an East of the Mississippi conference, save for La Tech and UTEP. If they can ditch those two, they can form a more regional league that can bus to each other.

So what would an FBS WAC or FBS WAC spinoff look like in this case? Pretty freaking great if you ask me.

SFA
Sam
NMSU
Lamar
ACU
Tarleton
UTEP
LA Tech
UT RGV
(Maybe TX State in the future)

That's as near a 10 team reconstruction of the old Southwest conference as you'll ever see.

That's an average KenPom ranking of 166 as a conference, but using KenPom's AdjEM conference ranking, this new entity would have a -0.8 AdjEM ranking, placing it at 13th in the conference rankings.

Conference USA's expansion options could turn out to be great for the WAC Texas schools.

Rumor on some other WAC threads says commissioner interviews are happening this week.

Original timeline said finalist to be named by Nov 1st, so seems they're pretty close to that outcome.

If CUSA is targeting Tarleton, that conference is over.

Conference USA is actively pursuing multiple avenues to expand and stay afloat. Among the schools they have been engaged with are Sam Houston State, New Mexico State and Tarleton State. There’s an effort to fortify the Western flank of C-USA that got gutted by the AAC.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 22, 2021

Some good WAC insights.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2439698/hoping-that-realignment-leads-to-opportunity.html

TallTexan said:

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If CUSA is targeting Tarleton, that conference is over.

Conference USA is actively pursuing multiple avenues to expand and stay afloat. Among the schools they have been engaged with are Sam Houston State, New Mexico State and Tarleton State. There’s an effort to fortify the Western flank of C-USA that got gutted by the AAC.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 22, 2021

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You are right about Tarleton. That would be a STUPID move. I can't imagine that happening.

TallTexan said:

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If CUSA is targeting Tarleton, that conference is over.

Conference USA is actively pursuing multiple avenues to expand and stay afloat. Among the schools they have been engaged with are Sam Houston State, New Mexico State and Tarleton State. There’s an effort to fortify the Western flank of C-USA that got gutted by the AAC.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 22, 2021

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It's all speculative. If WKU and MTSU head to the MAC it's done. Why would anyone join a sinking ship?

https://www.extrapointsmb.com/conference-realignment-update-11-1-no-conference-usa-isnt-dead-yet/

If you're an ExtraPoints subscriber, this is a great, in-depth read on the landscape.

If you're not, here's where things seem to stand at the moment. WKU & MTSU getting consideration for the MAC but no done deal.

CUSA isn't dead and likely will not die easily with CFP money & exit fees on the table. Rumored potential teams include NMSU & FCS targets like (Tarleton, Sam, & McNeese). Personally, I think Tarleton & McNeese are leaking this, not the other way around. They're trying to drum up interest when they might be lower on the expansion list.

WAC: No WAC schools are confirmed to be leaving and WAC AD's & Presidents really like the potential. The only hitch here is what the FBS timeline looks like. Also, the WCC is looking at options to replace BYU. Seattle, GCU, & CBU have been mentioned.

Also the 2nd part of this tweet?

McNeese to the WAC?

one way or another, I expect we'll see significant clarity by Wednesday. I believe we'll know what the MAC has decided to do by then, and the WAC could potentially take one of CUSA's best FCS options off the board early this week

— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) November 1, 2021

Seattle would be a great pick up for the WCC. They are geographically isolated from the WAC, they have more D1 sports going than any other WAC team, and they don't play football. They would be a middle of the pack team right away with many close opponents.

I hope Lake Charles rebounds. I have a good friend who has been working there in relief construction for 14 months. But, McNeese has no business coming to the WAC. Lamar shouldn't have come either, but the Texas schools needed more football. I know everyone has the fear on missing out on realignment, but there's going to be better options for McNeese.

nacluth said:

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I hope Lake Charles rebounds. I have a good friend who has been working there in relief construction for 14 months. But, McNeese has no business coming to the WAC. Lamar shouldn't have come either, but the Texas schools needed more football. I know everyone has the fear on missing out on realignment, but there's going to be better options for McNeese.

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I like McNeese and they do more with a modest budget than just about anyone else.

But you're right, it doesn't make the WAC better right now, and there's the potential for UTEP/La Tech to be searching for homes in the coming weeks. Unless the WAC has been informed of a departure and the idea is to pre-emptively expand so it looks like a position of strength rather than a refill pickup, it really doesn't make sense right now.

If we need to add them in the next 6 months, they'll still be there.

nacluth said:

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Seattle would be a great pick up for the WCC. They are geographically isolated from the WAC, they have more D1 sports going than any other WAC team, and they don't play football. They would be a middle of the pack team right away with many close opponents.

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Absolutely. Would benefit both conferences I would think.

And gets the WAC to a manageable 12 teams that are contiguously aligned.

nacluth said:

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Seattle would be a great pick up for the WCC. They are geographically isolated from the WAC, they have more D1 sports going than any other WAC team, and they don't play football. They would be a middle of the pack team right away with many close opponents.

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Frankly the WCC would be well served to grab Seattle AND CBU. Imho. CBU is on the rise. Seattle fits perfectly in the WCC.

TallTexan said:

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nacluth said:

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Seattle would be a great pick up for the WCC. They are geographically isolated from the WAC, they have more D1 sports going than any other WAC team, and they don't play football. They would be a middle of the pack team right away with many close opponents.

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Absolutely. Would benefit both conferences I would think.

And gets the WAC to a manageable 12 teams that are contiguously aligned.

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Contiguously... There you go with those big 50 cent words again. My IQ has risen 5 points from simply reading your posts these last few years, Texan. Thank you!

BigJack85 said:

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nacluth said:

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Seattle would be a great pick up for the WCC. They are geographically isolated from the WAC, they have more D1 sports going than any other WAC team, and they don't play football. They would be a middle of the pack team right away with many close opponents.

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Frankly the WCC would be well served to grab Seattle AND CBU. Imho. CBU is on the rise. Seattle fits perfectly in the WCC.

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If they lose Gonzaga, they might.

I would have no problem with McNeese joining the WAC. If Lamar can join, why not McNeese? Lake Charles is a stone's throw away from Beaumont anyway. They were a I-AA power at one time and could be again, but hopefully not at our expense.

SFA Jack Fanatic said:

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I would have no problem with McNeese joining the WAC. If Lamar can join, why not McNeese? Lake Charles is a stone's throw away from Beaumont anyway. They were a I-AA power at one time and could be again, but hopefully not at our expense.

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I think McNeese is a decent fit and I would have gladly taken them over Lamar to start.

I just think the timing is poor. Why take a team today that you can get in 6 months if you need them? Strategically, I'd rather try to land a moonshot for UTEP/LA Tech as independents than pre-emptively add McNeese and possible hurt your chance of landing LaTech.