(03-27-2014 10:13 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 10:02 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  I'm sure the same was said of the WAC at one point in the not so distant past. I don't think the SBC ceasing to exist is as far fetched as you imagine.

That was never said of the WAC, at least not by people in the know. Every team targeted by the WAC to move up either wasn't interested, or so far from being ready they weren't viable.

You're talking about the WAC at a later point than I am, I remember very well when the WAC was obviously doomed, but there were and still are FCS programs in the WACs footprint that would have viewed joining the WAC much differently were it a conference of ten existing FBS schools attempting to go to 12 or 14 or hell even 8 trying to get back to 10 or 12, but by the time the WAC was approaching these schools seriously the conference was already on life support.

Let's just suppose the top down realignment begins and eventually AAC ends up taking Rice and USM which finally breaks the camel's back for UTEP and they tap UTSA and the two of them head to the MWC. Banowsky finally gets his way and CUSA goes to 16 by taking Arkansas State, Louisiana, South Alabama, Texas State, Georgia State and James Madison.

The Sun Belt is now down to Troy, ULM, Georgia Southern, App and NMSU who has been given full membership out of necessity, Idaho bites the bullet, their program is not sustainable in that conference(and of course UTA and UALR). Outside of Liberty who is desperately seeking any FBS invite, some other FCS schools who were borderline on moving up decide not to make the move to a far flung conference on life support.

Again, I'm not predicting it, but I think there is a doomsday scenario in which schools that appear to have FBS potential and interest in the Sun Belt could decide the move simply isn't worth it. There were programs capable of joining the WAC, they just decided it was a sinking ship not worth saving.