TCUdirtbag
Active Member
This was inevitable. It will be interesting to see if they are able to emerge with any power as the "best" non-aq conference like the MWC did 2005-2010.
Now it's crazy to look back to 2008/2009/2010. Things would be very different had the Pac not expanded. TCU, Utah, BYU, and BSU (maybe with the addition of Houston and Hawaii to get to 12) would've gotten the MWC AQ status. Which could've given the Cotton Bowl BCS status (probably with a Big 12 tie in--shifting Fiesta to MWC). Instead, the "big 4" from the MWC are spread between the Pac, Big 12, Big East, and Independents. I don't think anyone could've predicted what happened in the last 2 years.
Also---CBS's McMurphy reporting the new mega-league will expand to 18 or 24 football members with a semifinal and final playoff game. So they can add 2 - 8 for teams. Look for invites to go to Texas schools to bring in those TV markets (UTSA, University of North Texas, TX State would all be candidates---they already have Rice and UTEP). Temple, if it doesn't get a Big East invite, has a good shot at membership, too, as will Utah State, New Mexico State, and LA Tech. In fact, the league could torpedo the WAC...again. If they go to 24 by killing the WAC, there's a legitimate question as to what happens to schools in conferences like the MAC and Sun Belt. Suddenly there's a new tier in D1 athletics.
Tier 1: SEC, Big 12, B1G, PAC, ACC
Tier 2: Big East
Tier 3: Mega-League
Tier 4: MAC, Sun Belt, WAC (if it survives)
Tier 5: FCS
What do you even start to do with this mess if you're trying to develop a college football playoff? Especially if the mega-league has its own?
Now it's crazy to look back to 2008/2009/2010. Things would be very different had the Pac not expanded. TCU, Utah, BYU, and BSU (maybe with the addition of Houston and Hawaii to get to 12) would've gotten the MWC AQ status. Which could've given the Cotton Bowl BCS status (probably with a Big 12 tie in--shifting Fiesta to MWC). Instead, the "big 4" from the MWC are spread between the Pac, Big 12, Big East, and Independents. I don't think anyone could've predicted what happened in the last 2 years.
Also---CBS's McMurphy reporting the new mega-league will expand to 18 or 24 football members with a semifinal and final playoff game. So they can add 2 - 8 for teams. Look for invites to go to Texas schools to bring in those TV markets (UTSA, University of North Texas, TX State would all be candidates---they already have Rice and UTEP). Temple, if it doesn't get a Big East invite, has a good shot at membership, too, as will Utah State, New Mexico State, and LA Tech. In fact, the league could torpedo the WAC...again. If they go to 24 by killing the WAC, there's a legitimate question as to what happens to schools in conferences like the MAC and Sun Belt. Suddenly there's a new tier in D1 athletics.
Tier 1: SEC, Big 12, B1G, PAC, ACC
Tier 2: Big East
Tier 3: Mega-League
Tier 4: MAC, Sun Belt, WAC (if it survives)
Tier 5: FCS
What do you even start to do with this mess if you're trying to develop a college football playoff? Especially if the mega-league has its own?