The SBC has been playing footsie with James Madison and Liberty for over a year now and to me neither is a good fit culturally or geographically. To me there are better fits in the region. I know I'm going out on a limb, but the SBC has been taking it in the shorts from C-USA on expansion targets but not on the field where we have been winning against them.
So....it's time for SBC to get tough and poach teams from them. C-USA is no better than the SBC, actually worst after last year football record. I would go after S. Miss and UAB as they fall in our footprint and not in C-USA's. Why would they consider it...simple! Instant rivals everywhere. UAB would have Troy, S. Alabama, and the Georgia schools that would be easy travel for their fans. S. Miss would have the Louisiana twins and Ark. St. plus UAB. The only close team right now for S. Miss is UAB; this would save on travel cost and increase fan interest.
With SBC increasing to 4 bowls plus the rotating options in the coming years, there really is no difference in bowl games. With changing membership in C-USA some of their bowls will be moving to the new AAC conference anyway.
There are some difference in present day TV contracts but that will change soon also due the falling status of C-USA.
If both teams came over to the SBC, that would give us 13 teams. Maybe Idaho would chose to join the Sky conference or one of the smaller
west coast conference as they really do not fit in the SBC. Now there is a nice 12 team football conference with a lot less travel expense and more close rivals to count on.
Still wishing; if NMSU left the conference then I would target one of the Florida schools that left as they will be doing more traveling than any team in C-USA and they would have better chances at playing in bowl games near their fan base.
I'm just saying! What do you think?