The American expansion

[True Bearcat]

Now that our beloved Bearcats have accepted a Big XII invite, our old conference needs to fill the losses. Rumors on Twitter are Air Force and Colorado State are interested with UAB being mentioned a lot. This returns them to 11, but I think they need to return to 12.

East

Temple
South Florida
East Carolina
Memphis
Tulane
UAB

West

Tulsa
SMU
Air Force
Navy
Colorado State
Rice? UTSA?

or send Memphis west and add one of Army, Marshall, or ODU? Or grow to 14? by adding a combination of Air Force, CSU, UTSA, Rice, UAB, Army , Marshall, or ODU.

[Geaux Juan]

I saw this written in an AP article this morning:
"Replacing Houston, Central Florida and Cincinnati will be UAB, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, UTSA, Rice and North Texas.

"The plan calls for the 14 teams to face each other at least twice during the four-year cycle - once at home and once on the road.

"The schedule also will include six annual matchups: North Texas-SMU; UAB-Memphis; Rice-UTSA; Charlotte-East Carolina; Florida Atlantic-South Florida; and Navy-Temple."


The AAC will continue to be division-less and that format will remain for four years. The top two teams will play for the championship.

I like the idea of the annual matchups.

[bearcatbret]

It is well written.

[Lobot]

Aresco with an open letter to College Football. I think this is pretty much aimed at the ACC who doesn't want to deal with things and took their ball and went home.

https://theamerican.org/news/2022/2/...-football.aspx

[cpawstoney]

Or the "Hoo Gives A Hoot" trophy. (Sorry about that.)

[swilsonsp4]

They can call it the Superb Owl trophy?

Or the "Hoo Gives A Hoot" trophy. (Sorry about that.)

[Lobot]

They can call it the Superb Owl trophy?

[GoBearcats31]

#Power6 http://theamerican.org/news/2021/10/...versities.aspx

IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference Board of Directors and Commissioner Mike Aresco announced today that six universities have had their applications for membership in The American approved by the conference’s nine continuing members.

The six new institutions, whose membership in The American will begin on a date to be determined, will be:

The University of Alabama at Birmingham – Birmingham, Alabama

Florida Atlantic University – Boca Raton, Florida

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Charlotte, North Carolina

The University of North Texas – Denton, Texas

Rice University – Houston, Texas

The University of Texas at San Antonio – San Antonio, Texas

[Lobot]

Chris Vannini:

Source confirms the AAC is expected today to announce the additions of Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB, UTSA, as @Brett_McMurphy first reported.

With the additions, the AAC will have a stranglehold on owls, containing all three FBS teams nicknamed the Owls (FAU, Rice, Temple). They should make a trophy.

The announcement has been made by the AAC. It’s official.

[GoBearcats31]

Chris Vannini:

Source confirms the AAC is expected today to announce the additions of Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB, UTSA, as @Brett_McMurphy first reported.

With the additions, the AAC will have a stranglehold on owls, containing all three FBS teams nicknamed the Owls (FAU, Rice, Temple). They should make a trophy.

[red_n_black_attack]

Thamel: The applications from the six Conference USA schools are trickling into the AAC, according to sources. The application is really a one/two-sentence declaration of interest. The earliest the 6 schools could start in the AAC is 2023-24. An announcement is expected later this week.

That makes sense with the plan for UC to begin Big 12 play in '23. Now we just need to get news on the buyout negotiation.

[swilsonsp4]

Here's a piece from Pete Thamel from last night that lays out reasoning behind these potential AAC invitees and the TV payouts for each school.

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-the...014015069.html

[GoBearcats31]

Pete Thamel:

Sources: The American Athletic Conference is expected examine expansion this week, with six schools expected to send applications. The AAC is expected to receive an application from – FAU, Charlotte, North Texas, UTSA, Rice and UAB this week. ... The expectation is that they will be accepted and the AAC will grow to a 14-team football league. (Also 14 teams in hoops.)

Thamel: The applications from the six Conference USA schools are trickling into the AAC, according to sources. The application is really a one/two-sentence declaration of interest. The earliest the 6 schools could start in the AAC is 2023-24. An announcement is expected later this week.

[swilsonsp4]

The good thing for the MAC commish is that the conference is on an island, far away from almost all of the C-USA & SBC schools. Only Marshall, which is near Athens and OU, would be an exception. The MAC is a Great Lakes-area conference. The other three G5 conferences, excluding the MWC, are stretched out across the south and southwest, with Temple out of place anywhere.

[True Bearcat]

Funny how no one seems to be interested in raiding the MAC.

It is quite interesting. Who do you take? Buffalo has potential, but nah, Ohio is in the middle of nowhere, and will be suffocated by Ohio State @ Columbus. Northern Illinois? They may be a possibility, but would have to win instantly to get any attention. The MAC just seems to be in a conference that they all love, and no one wants to bother them.