A quick look at the C-USA and Sun Belt maps suggests that most of the members could save an incredible amount of money by re-forming into two new conferences with closer geographical ties, much lower travel costs and times, easier ability to watch your teams on nearby fields, more time for fun, etc.

Preamble:

About half of the Sun Belt and C-USA teams fall within the broader footprint of the SEC (extending into Texas) and almost half fall within the footprint of the ACC. The MAC and MWC footprints don't overlap with any of the other G5s. The AAC overlaps most, but is in an ESPN category of its own that could prevent more than 2 or 3 additions to the AAC in the next few years.

Assuming no exchanges with the MWC or MAC, the most obvious options to rearrange the Sunbelt and C-USA might include the following:

Proposal:

I. Merger of the East Divisions of Sun Belt and C-USA into a new Southeastern Coastal Conference (Name to be determined; fostering P5 rivalries with ACC and SEC teams from Virginia, Kentucky, and the Carolinas through Georgia to Florida)

North Division: AVERAGE TRAVEL DISTANCE PERHAPS 400-500 MILES

ODU
Charlotte
Appalachian State
Marshall
MTSU LOCATIONS: NC (2), VA (1) , WVa (1), KY (1), TN (1)
WKU


South Division: AVERAGE TRAVEL DISTANCE PERHAPS 550-650 MILES

Coastal Carolina
Troy LOCATIONS: SC (1), Alabama (1), Georgia (2), Florida (2)
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
FIU
FAU

Total schools: 12.

Primary advantage: More local rivalries, much lower travel costs & reduced travel time for athletes & fans. 12 schools = ideal conference size.

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II. Merger of the West Divisions of Sun Belt and C-USA into a new G5 South Central Conference (Name to be determined; fostering P5 rivalries with Big-12 and SEC teams from Texas to Alabama).

West Division: AVERAGE TRAVEL DISTANCE PERHAPS 550-600 MILES

UTEP
UTSA
Rice
UNT LOCATIONS: Texas (5) & Arkansas (1)
Texas State
Arkansas State

East Division: AVERAGE TRAVEL DISTANCE PERHAPS 300-400 MILES

Louisiana-Monroe
Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana Tech
Southern Miss
UAB LOCATIONS: Louisiana (3), South Miss. (1), Alabama (2)
South Alabama

Total schools: 12.

Primary advantage: More local rivalries and much lower travel costs & travel time. 12 schools are better than 10 or 14 team conferences.

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OPTION TO CONSIDER:

OVER-ARCHING TWO CONFERENCE ORGANIZATIONAL SETUP, ENCOMPASSING TWO NEW CONFERENCES FROM THE TEAMS IN THE CURRENT SUN BELT AND C-USA CONFERENCES WITHIN A 24 TEAM MEGA-STRUCTURE WITH 4 ROUND-ROBIN DIVISIONS SET FORTH ABOVE, ROTATING INTER-DIVISIONAL GAMES, PRESERVATION OF SOME RIVALRY GAMES.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES FOR THE G5 SOUTH CENTRAL AND G5 COASTAL -CONFERENCES, WHICH WOULD FUNCTION AS QUASI-INDEPENDENT CONFERENCES LINKED ONLY BY A COMMON ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, WHICH WOULD NEGOTIATE MEDIA CONTRACTS, BOWL AGREEMENTS, ETC.

Advantages:

Travel costs and travel time would be cut substantially with streamlined divisional systems, as above.

New organizational structure would be in a much more powerful position to negotiate media contracts, bowl agreements, etc., and costs on salaries to conference executive staffs could be cut by 25%. Result, more money to the conference members and a more efficient organizational setup.

The over-arching organizational structure would also have more power in dealing with State governments, airlines, etc.