GreenBull93

7. Fresno State Fresno State has a lot going for it. The Bulldogs were 12th among G5 teams in terms of total revenue and outside of the top 12 in total expenses. Though it’s not the most impressive media market, the Fresno area is not a bad place for a conference to have a footprint in. Also, the Bulldogs have been successful of late. They won the Mountain West Championship last season and are 8-1 with two Power Five wins in 2023. Fresno State would absolutely be capable of fitting in with a power league from a talent and recruiting perspective. 6. Colorado State Colorado State wouldn’t be the first program that jumps into someone’s mind for a ranking like this, but the Rams would absolutely be a program for a Power Five league like the Big 12 to consider. The media market and footprint should be appealing because of CSU’s proximity to Denver, even though CSU might have to compete with Colorado in terms of recruits and viewership. CSU also had the eighth-highest total revenue among G5 programs last year, so the money is there for the team to prepare itself for a jump to a P5 conference. 5. USF South Florida is another school which many wouldn’t immediately think of as a Power Five-worthy team. But there would be some benefits for a league like the ACC or Big 12 (now that UCF is a part of it) to add the Bulls. USF hasn’t been extremely successful recently, though it did give Alabama some issues this year. Thus, the energy around the program hasn’t been great. But maybe that all would change with a Power Five move. With Tampa, USF is part of a substantial market. The team also plays in Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so it has the capacity for a move up. 4. Boise State Many have been clamoring for Boise State to move on to the Power Five, and the Broncos have been the subject of many conference realignment rumors the past few years. In Boise, Idaho, the market isn’t huge and the national viewership is middle of the road. But Boise State was 14th among G5 teams in total revenue, so it would be a logical school to pick. The program also has an energetic and loyal following, as the team has seen some great success and pulled off some memorable wins in bowl games the past couple decades. With that alone, Boise State deserves to be a Power Five program, but there would be much more to consider. 3. Memphis Memphis has won a fair number of games the past few years, and the Tigers are off to a good start in 2023 at 7-2 overall. Maybe that could help springboard them into Power Five consideration. Memphis has much more going for it as well, including being a good basketball school. The football program was seventh among G5 teams in terms of total revenue last year and is in a good spot geographically as well. Of the teams in the AAC, I think Memphis is the most likely to make a move like this. 2. UNLV Yes, UNLV hasn’t exactly thrived on the football field in the past few years. However, the team is 7-2 overall in 2023. Plus, wins are not all conferences consider when thinking of teams to add. Pro sports leagues have moved or expanded to Las Vegas because it’s a good market. The Rebels were also sixth in 2022 among Group of Five teams in total revenue and play at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, so they are in a good position to make a power-conference transition. 1. San Diego State To me, San Diego State is the most clear-cut answer for this. As recently as this year, the Aztecs tried leaving the Mountain West—likely in hopes of being picked up by the Pac-12—before SDSU decided to not make that move and the Pac-12 drastically changed. But San Diego State is the most ready to make a jump from the G5 to the Power Five. SDSU was fifth among Group of Five programs in total revenue last year, behind only UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, and Air Force, and those first three schools are now in the Big 12. The market would also benefit a Power Five league being in a large city in California that has no NFL presence. Snapdragon Stadium could also be the home of a P5 team. And don’t forget the Aztecs made a run to the Final Four in basketball as recently as last season, so that kind of move could make sense for multiple SDSU programs. If San Diego State doesn’t stick around for a potential Pac-12/Mountain West merger, Power Five conferences would probably be smart to consider SDSU.

According to Hero Sports: Group Of Five To Power Five College Football Conference Realignment: Ranking G5 Teams Most Likely To Move On by Colton Pool November 8, 2023 In the wake of drastic, compelling, and sometimes confusing college football conference realignment, several Group of Five teams have chosen to move on to Power Five leagues. And even though the Pac-12 has been nearly dismantled, these moves might not even be over. As the power conferences continue to expand, G5 teams might be a part of those efforts. Here’s a ranking of the Group of Five programs which are most likely to transition to a Power Five conference. Five of the seven teams on this list are from the Mountain West. Group of Five Teams Most Likely To Join Conference Realignment, Ranked Rank Team 1 San Diego State 2 UNLV 3 Memphis 4 Boise State 5 USF 6 Colorado State 7 Fresno State

Has CAG ever mentioned Tennessee since he got here? If he has, I'm thinking it has been somewhat rare. He probably realizes how far it got his predecessor to talk about the past. Not sure exactly why, but I am much more inspired by CAG than CJS. I think MK has been a nightmare, but he may be so incompetent that he accidently made a good hire. Now the revamped OL, that may be CAG's nemesis. Even though they have decent size, they looked awful.

I am not sure if this has been discussed on this board, but should CJL be invited back to be on the sideline, or even in the presidents box, for an appearance at home USF game (such as the FAMU game)? I must admit that, unlike some on this board, I fully supported his removal at the time. But everyone knows that USF Football owes alot to CJL and he will forever be the father of USF Football. Since CJL is currently not tied to any other schools (that I am aware of) and since most, if not all, of the USF administration involved in his departure are now gone, maybe now is the time? I'm not suggesting building a statue or anything (at this point), but I just think it would be a good first step. Time heals old wounds and I believe that maybe that time has arrived for CJL to be invited back to watch a game. He continues to support and promote USF Football in realignment and I honestly think Golesh would welcome his limited presence.

Not only that, but we all know that USF would not bring CJL back as head coach right now. But what would happen if in a couple of years Deion decided to go to the NFL or some other "better" opportunity. You guessed it, CJL is the new USF HC and USF Football lives happily ever after.

Seems logical that Deion would contact Leavitt to get his opinion of both Colorado and USF. CJL is the only connection to both schools. I am sure he had FSU contacts who could give him Leavitt's phone number. Maybe deioniscoming is CJL!

Is there any chance that the sticking point for Deion wanting more control over the program was that he wanted final say for his choice of assistants, namely for his choice for DC (CJL)?

I just got a call from a reliable source.....................................

Louisville 2005 was my first USF game becuase I wasn't interested in Kentucky Weslyan type games (thank you to you pioneer fans). I went to 2007 Auburn, and 2007 Rutgers, not to mention FSU 2009. MK's grade for schedules is an A, MK's grade for head coaching hiring and firing is an F. He waited over a year too long to fire Charlie. He ruined what little was left of the program. Who wants to watch CUSA games.....I sure don't. UCF is in the Big 12 people. Our last great hope is the OCS.

How many games can we realistically win this year?

Michael Kelley is the worst hire in school history.

Can TheAccountant handle the logistics and put this together. Can we have a donation link next to the one for the IPF? If so, I'll donate the first $100 if it flies during the next home game.

Can McMurphy confirm this?

TAMPA — First-year USF athletic director Michael Kelly sat in his office Thursday afternoon and pointed to a sign behind his desk Keep calm and play to your strengths. Kelly, 47, has done just that during a top-flight administrative career that has seen him organize Super Bowls and the College Football Playoff as its COO. He never got anywhere jumping the gun. He remains a measured man. But USF is a tough nut to crack, even for the can-do Kelly. He returns to is motto. "It's about playing to your strengths," he said. And Kelly said USF football coach Charlie Strong is one of those strengths."I just believe he's a good, good fit for us," Kelly said. "He's had a great career. Relates well to student-athletes. He recruits Florida well. As I came here, I was excited that he was here. I've only been here four months, but I think it's a great fit to build the program with. I think we're really fortunate to have him." There is noise, at least outside the system, after Strong's second season at USF went from 7-0 to its current five-game losing slide. It makes people wonder if Strong is long for here, by his own hand, as in leaving, or perhaps being asked to leave. People wonder If Kelly and USF wouldn't be better off by parting ways with Strong, despite his 17-7 record at USF. Strong's annual salary will more than double in 2019, to $2.5 million. Can USF really afford to pay someone that much money to go 7-5 and not win the conference? It's a reasonable question. It might seem to call for an audacious move from Kelly, to push on from Strong and look to make a fresh hire. "It would be if you didn't believe in the coach that you have, if you didn't think you had someone who had what it takes," Kelly said. "I think we do. I have confidence in my ability to find people, but I also like to build things with people who want to be here. … I think it's irrational to make a wholesale change. I get disappointed when we lose five in a row, but, no, it's all a matter of how you work forward." Plus, Kelly thinks Strong wants to stay at USF. "I could look at silly at any time, but I really believe he wants to be here," Kelly said. Kelly has a lot on his plate. He is working toward building a dedicated football facility at USF. Price tag: $40 million. Fundraising is up on his watch. The athletic program boasts more monied boosters — "Iron Bulls" — than it ever has. Attendance for football was at its highest since 2012. Beyond that football facility, far beyond, is an on-campus stadium, that distant dream. And there is the big enchilada. None of this — zero percent — matters if Kelly doesn't have USF in the right place when the music starts again on conference expansion. That's the whole ballgame right there. "We want to be a top 25 program," Kelly said. "We haven't done that. We want to win the American conference. We haven't done that. We haven't won any of the conferences we've been in. We want to do that. The closest we came was last year. "We've been looking at a lot of things. No, 7-5 isn't what we want. But Charlie Strong is also the only coach to play for a division title in our history, too. We have to build the football facility first. I would say that if Charlie went somewhere else, we'd still have to do it for any coach." So, Charlie will be back if he wants back. "As long as people are looking for ways to improve and wanting to be here, why wouldn't I build on it with someone who is a proven success, who has great contacts in the state of Florida?" Kelly said. "My goal coming in here was to build a perennial top-25 CFP program. I've been here four months, Charlie has been here 22." USF isn't helped by the juxtapose with that team down the road, seventh-ranked UCF. USF might needs to partner with UCF at one point in conference jumping. Kelly will be all in. He will have USF positioned. It's what he does. Kelly says he hears USF fans wanting more. "It's great. That's a hell of a lot better than apathy." Expect changes to Strong's staff and a general shift, but the new athletic director says moving on from Strong is the height of makes no sense. "I think it' so easy to jump ahead in a society where everything is so instantaneous, everyone's reaction, and judgment. But I still believe in Charlie. I think we're a good team. I think we have great potential. I think it's a good combo. You don't think a Strong-Kelly team can get better? He smiled and pointed to the sign on the wall. Calm comes easy to Michael Kelly. Martin F.