(04-16-2014 08:55 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(04-16-2014 08:54 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(04-16-2014 08:11 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  Coming to a SunBelt near you.... NMSU for all sports, UMass for football only. And it won't be a long wait.

Like Idaho, Umass will be a temporary deal. It's a convenient arrangement for them and the SB. They get time to build their football program up for the AAC and some other schools get time to prepare for the SunBelt.

I see a major realignment in the G5 conferences down the road. There is only so much TV money to go around. Once those funds are sucked out of the system by the P5 playoff, schools will be forced to realign into regional conferences in order to get the ridiculous travel expenses under control. That is why it is imperative to get a seat at the FBS table now. Once the door is closed and locked those on the outside will wander in the FCS wasteland for a long time.

If NMSU leaves the WAC, the WAC loses its autobids. NMSU looks at the WAC as a convenient vessel to relatively easily gain the autobid. Maybe Grand Canyon (which isn't eligible yet) or UVU will be challengers, but the WAC is a more reliable launching pad for a NCAA bid.

NMSU would leave for SBC all sports in a heart beat. Their President has openly admitted that.

That is correct. Based on comments by our president NMSU would quickly accept a Sun Belt bid.

Even though the WAC does offer an easier path to the NCAA tourney (for several sports) and the travel in the WAC would be a little easier (for all it's far flung locations - most WAC schools are located near major airports) the Sun Belt offers much greater stability. Plus the benefit of having all sports in one conference. Less administrative costs/burden and greater sense of conference identity.

No significant chatter on the NMSU side yet though.