Another Expansion/Realignment Thread

[Chuck A]

With the ACC inviting SMU of the AAC, Army has emerged as a potential invitee to the Athletic. Potentially, Army would be invited as a football only member. Navy is a football only member while Wichita State is a full member, excluding football. An Army addition would definitely weaken the AAC’s power status. Memphis is really the only “name” brand left in the AAC. Wichita State has fallen off a bit from its MVC stature and could become concerned about the direction of their conference. There could be some thinking and rethinking among the WSU hierarchy (President, AD, BOT, etc) when it comes to their place in this wave of realignment.

Also, with the communications between The Mountain West and The PAC-2, with no football, there may not be any fit for the Wheatshockers. These sets of circumstances have begun to limit their potential options.

[TBS_20]

You're a Wichita fan, correct? Where do you think they'll land when the dust settles?

[Chuck A]

You're a Wichita fan, correct? Where do you think they'll land when the dust settles?

Nope, UIC fan. Just keeping up with the goings on of expansion/realignment. From afar (before UIC got into the MVC) I thought Wichita State made a mistake by moving to the AAC. Moving to a conference where basketball wasn’t the focus was a problem and they obviously couldn’t see down the pike at what the future held for realignment. Now they could be a program that’s SOL.

[IllinoisState]

You're a Wichita fan, correct? Where do you think they'll land when the dust settles?

Nope, UIC fan. Just keeping up with the goings on of expansion/realignment. From afar (before UIC got into the MVC) I thought Wichita State made a mistake by moving to the AAC. Moving to a conference where basketball wasn’t the focus was a problem and they obviously couldn’t see down the pike at what the future held for realignment. Now they could be a program that’s SOL.

They get more money and exposure being in the AAC even with most of the best teams leaving. They don't regret leaving, but the might regret not making another move soon enough in the following years.

if Memphis leaves they would probably reload with another C-USA or Sun Belt Team. Troy? No clear cut options to add or that would be willing to join necessarily. That could help the MVC.

[Chuck A]

While they may get more money now, the next contract will be coming. I can almost guarantee it won’t nearly be as much as the current one. Granted, the new AAC teams did very well last season and should do reasonably well this season, especially Florida Atlantic. The question of course is will any of those teams sustain or improve upon that success or will they fall back into mediocrity? I would surmise ESPN and the other AAC media partners would have some thoughts on that!

The new AAC teams also have no real name caché!

[MissouriValleyUnite]

While they may get more money now, the next contract will be coming.

Not until 2032.

[squirrel]

West Georgia will begin its move to DI and is pursuing membership in the A-Sun/UAC.

[Red]

College of Charleston rumored to the A10 as the 16th member. Loyola has to be regretting that move already, right?

[squirrel]

College of Charleston rumored to the A10 as the 16th member. Loyola has to be regretting that move already, right?

Not at all.

Their endowment has nearly doubled in the last 5 years, eclipsing the billion-dollar mark.

Their student population now includes 45 states and 58 countries - both of those numbers were in the 30's just a few years ago.

The move is about exposure, national, and international growth.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

College of Charleston rumored to the A10 as the 16th member. Loyola has to be regretting that move already, right?

Not at all.

Their endowment has nearly doubled in the last 5 years, eclipsing the billion-dollar mark.

Their student population now includes 45 states and 58 countries - both of those numbers were in the 30's just a few years ago.

The move is about exposure, national, and international growth.

Not one of those things happened due to the A-10. They played their first year in the A-10 just last year. This year would be the first year you would see any effect, and this year's stats aren't even available.

So the starting point before playing in the A-10 would be the 45 states and 58 countries listed above. Same with their endowment which hit $1 billion in 2021.

Also, conference affiliation has no impact on international growth unless you're consistently on a wide-reaching network overseas.