(04-07-2014 11:15 AM)SHWISH Wrote:  

(04-07-2014 10:54 AM)statefanatic Wrote:  

(04-07-2014 10:48 AM)pjc1979 Wrote:  

(04-07-2014 10:44 AM)statefanatic Wrote:  All these FCS schools are starting to talk FBS when only one for sure spot is left. Who gets that last spot? EKU, Liberty, JMU, Lamar, and MSU All want to go FBS. The Sun Belt has a big decision to make and one of these teams could be lucky enough to be the last FCS to FBS move for some time.

I could see Idaho eventually leaving the Belt and creating another spot but that could be several years from now. It seems 12 is the magic number now that the CFP has started. I don't see CUSA adding any teams even if they lose two. I think the MAC is ok staying at 12. The MWC seems ok at 12. I just don't see any major realignment opening any spots for any more FCS teams.

One for sure spot left and seveal teams wanting in. Who is ready and willing to make that move today. We all know the answer but most aren't willing to accept it. Liberty will get that last FCS to FBS spot.

The Sun Belt holds the golden ticket for sure. What's the deal with Idaho anyways? Has the Sun Belt promised them anything? Why are they even here?

Idaho is here because they were a previous Sun Belt member and would have given the Belt 12 teams. WKU decided to go to CUSA leaving us with 11 teams. I don't think Idaho will last very long at the FBS level. The Sun Belt won't kick them out. We will have to wait for them to leave on there own.

Is being a former member really the reason for Idaho. Lamar is a former SBC member.

Lamar was never a football member.

But I don't buy the former member hypothesis. Simple matter of at the time Idaho got the league to 12 in football and while the travel isn't great, Sun Belt schools were already scheduling them home/home in non-conference so the football travel wasn't that big of a concern.

No football only arrangement has ever lasted more than 14 years (though I expect Hawaii/MWC to break that mark eventually) and of the 24 football only agreements ever executed only two have lasted more than 7 years.

It is very unlikely Idaho will be in the Sun Belt come 2020 either by choice of the league or choice of Idaho but the odds are against it.

Contrary to theory that is one golden ticket left, I think there are as many as three and as few as 2. One to be Sun Belt 12th full member, one to be full member 13 replacing Idaho, one to be full member 14 replacing NMSU... unless NMSU gets the full member spot.