(06-07-2021 11:44 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 11:22 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(06-05-2021 01:46 PM)BraveKnight Wrote:  

Then the AAC would become the tallest midget. Yay. But if BYU was P5 material they'd already be in a P5 conference. The P5 aint sharing their money.. no way, no how.

I definitely think BYU is P5 material: from a pure economic standpoint, they are a P5 school without a question. However, there are social/political reasons for why there's a lot of pushback from other P5 schools on inviting them as a member. It's a case where the money isn't an issue, but rather whether BYU's stances on certain issues inherently conflict with the policies that are going to be intractable at many P5 universities.

On the flip side (and I've said this many times previously), it's water under the bridge because BYU isn't joining a G5 conference as long as Utah is in a P5 league. It doesn't matter how much the AAC might offer in terms of money or even a better chance at a playoff spot. In no uncertain terms, BYU *cannot* be allow itself to be structurally inferior to Utah and joining any G5 league (even the best one) means completely admitting that it's structurally inferior. People might say that this doesn't make sense or emotional or they are giving up playoff/NY6 bowl access or they're being delusional elitists, yadda yadda yadda, but the BYU leadership (AKA the leadership of the LDS church) DGAF on that front. Perception is reality for them.

BYU is the very rare case where it actually *isn't* about the money, whether it's about a P5 conference inviting them or BYU accepting an invite from a G5 conference.

BYU may be the equivalent or near-equivalent of a power school, academically and in most other respects, but a strong argument can be made that a few of the other universities on this list are, as well:

FBS universities that have already been members of power conferences:

Cincinnati#@^ (Big East; R1; one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

Houston#@^ (SWC; R1; one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

Connecticut#@+ (R1; Big East; one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

Temple#@ (R1; Big East FB; one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

SMU#@ (SWC; final top-25 MBB, 2014-17; ranked FB teams, 2019-20)

Rice# (SWC; R1; AAU Member)

Tulane# (SEC; R1; AAU Member)

South Florida (R1; Big East)


# Has played in a Rose, Cotton, Sugar, Orange, or (2014-21) NY6 bowl game, and/or has advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA basketball tournament (final four).

@ Has been credited with a football or basketball national championship, has played in a national championship game, or has finished 1+ seasons as the #1 or #2 ranked football or basketball team in the nation.

^ Has had final top 25 football and basketball teams in the past decade.

+State Flagship University

*https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/the-greatest-college-basketball-programs-ever-ranking-the-top-teams-of-all-time/



Other FBS universities with P5-quality football and basketball programs:

BYU#@^ (R1; one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

Memphis#@^ (one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

San Diego State^ (has had top 25 FB and MBB teams since 2015)



Other FBS universities with P5 or potential P5-quality FB or MBB programs:

Boise State# (has had thirteen final AP top 25 football teams since 2000)

UCF# (R1; has had five final AP top 25 football teams since 2010)

Army@ (#19-ranked football team in 2018 final AP top 25)

Navy#@ (#18 football team in 2015; #20 football team in 2019 final AP top 25)

Air Force# (#22-ranked football team in 2019 final AP top 25)



FBS Universities that have some of the features associated with P5 universities:

UNLV#@ (R1; one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")

UTEP#@ (R1; one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

New Mexico State# (R1; one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

Utah State (one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

WKU# (one of the "greatest college basketball programs ever")*

--WKU had #24-ranked football team in the final 2015 AP top 25; 2013 NCAA team.

Hawaii#+ (R1 University)

Marshall (#23-ranked football team in the final 2014 AP top 25; 2018 NCAA team).

Wyoming#+

Tulsa# (#24 CFP-ranked football team in 2020; 2 NCAA MBB teams since 2013)

Massachusetts@+ (R1 University)

Buffalo+ (AAU Member; R1 University)

Alabama-Birmingham (R1 University; #31 in all-time basketball winning percentage)

University of Nevada, Reno+ (R1 University)

University of New Mexico+ (R1 University)


Up-and-coming FBS University football programs:

Appalachian State (Leads all FBS teams in current football winning percentage)

Louisiana-Lafayette (#15 ranked football team in final 2020 AP top 25).

Coastal Carolina (#14 ranked football team in final 2020 AP top 25).

Liberty (#17 ranked football team in final 2020 AP top 25).