Conference realignment "Rumors" "tweets" "etc"

[GreenBull93]

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

[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.

[Triple B]

1 hour ago, GreenBull93 said:

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.

That's a lazy author ....

[Gat-Rat Bull]

1 hour ago, Triple B said:

That's a lazy author ....

No kidding. The author should have at least mentioned AAU status and the upcoming new stadium. Or used Chat GPT...

"What are the reasons a power five conference would want to invite the University of South Florida?

ChatGPT:

Power Five conferences might consider inviting the University of South Florida for several reasons:

Market Expansion: USF's location in a rapidly growing and diverse region, including the Tampa Bay area, can provide the conference with access to new markets and fans.

Television Market: Tampa is a significant television market, and adding USF could enhance the conference's TV ratings and potential revenue.

Recruiting Grounds: Florida is a hotbed for high school football talent, and adding USF could strengthen the conference's recruiting base.

Academic Reputation: USF's academic programs and research initiatives can contribute positively to the conference's academic standing.

Growth Potential: The university's commitment to investing in its athletic programs and facilities can make it an attractive candidate for a Power Five conference.

Regional Rivalries: USF's inclusion may enhance or create regional rivalries within the conference, boosting fan engagement and attendance.

[Southbull]

3 hours ago, Triple B said:

That's a lazy author ....

The writer must be from the Tampa Bay Times. 

[Grateful Dad]

"The team also plays in Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so it has the capacity for a move up."

Soooo, is RJ an asset or a liability? Is our proposed OCS so small that we have no room to grow and a major conference wouldn't want us?  Did Adam and Eve have navels? That article is so good that it just gives rise to all kinds of deep questions.

Edited November 9, 2023 by Grateful Dad

[Mike Stuben]

14 hours ago, GreenBull93 said:

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

When I read this, I immediately knew the author lived somewhere out west, I then checked, and it was confirmed, as this list as such a west coast bias. 

I could be wrong, but what we are seeing now is a devaluation of west coast teams. All the brands in the west are joining East or Midwest based leagues. Total number of P5 teams in the west is decreasing (Wazzu and OreSt) ....I am  not saying the author is wrong, but their bias shows, and they seem to be going against the current trends. 

[Grateful Dad]

Never thought I would see the demise of the Pac 10.  But then, I never realized the power of the networks to control the sport that way that they do.

[belgianbull]

50 minutes ago, Grateful Dad said:

Never thought I would see the demise of the Pac 10.  But then, I never realized the power of the networks to control the sport that way that they do.

It didnt have to happen. They could have added BYU, Boise State, and San Diego State years ago. Instead they were asleep at the wheel until they were picked off one by one until there were 4 teams left ( now 2 teams).

Those teams still would still have left, but the PAC would have remained at 5 teams at which point they could have added more teams.

[GoBulls84]

Don't know what the hell Hero Sports is, but it's clearly a poorly-researched piece written by someone in Mountain West territory.