There's an older, crazy long thread (not as long as this one, admittedly) about the pros and cons of expanding past 10.

https://csnbbs.com/thread-989267.html

I don't see ANY justification for expanding given the current environment, financials, etc.

We don't have divisions. We won't make more money by moving to 11 or 12 or 14. (To the contrary: on a per-school basis, we'd make substantially less.) We don't have any contractual obligations to meet a certain membership threshold we haven't already met.

"The FCS pipeline is about to dry up" is not a justification to add anyone.

"Liberty and WKU and MTSU and ____ will likely be poached by the Belt or AAC or ____" is speculative and not a justification to add anyone.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO EXPAND AT THIS TIME.

If things go crazy above us and teams do leave, we can cross that bridge when we get there, same as CUSA did last time.

But I submit that if we hold at the 10 we have, if everyone remains committed to improvement, we will very quickly shed the label as the "FCS stepping stone" conference, just as the SBC has (mostly) shed that label.

We have some very good candidates in our footprint, if we are forced to add a school or two in the future.

If we delay, we won't "miss out" on them. One of three things will happen:

1) They will have a few more years to strengthen their case for becoming an FBS member. This is a good thing for them AND us.

2) They will prove they never should have been considered an FBS candidate in the first place. If we have not taken them on, then this would be a good thing for CUSA. You don't want to discover this AFTER they join.

3) CUSA will strengthen to the point that we don't need to look at FCS for members. I keep saying this, and people keep judging our ability to poach from other conferences based on 2025. I'm not looking at 2025. I'm looking a few years past that. The longer we can hold off on adding anyone, the farther in the future this moves.

Sure, we can all crash and burn by that point. (The most vocal Belt fans are POSITIVE that's going to happen.) But we could also rise to greater prominence. If Liberty and WKU maintain what they have going, Jax State and SHSU weather the coaching changes and prove last season wasn't a fluke, NMSU and Middle and FIU get things turned around, and Kennesaw, Delaware, and Mo State find their FBS footing, we WILL NOT be a stepping stone league anymore, and it's not going to take 10 years to get to that point.

And that's just football.

We're already solid (and strengthening) in hoops. Despite losing La Tech (which hurts) we should remain solid in baseball, and remarkably, could still be strengthening. Our latest additions help us immensely in some women's sports. We're not as weak as the doubters and haters want to portray us.

Adding schools purely out of fear of what *might* happen is a sign of weakness.

Let's stay at 10. Weakness is for losers.

He's right^^^^^.

Pre Season FCS Coaches Poll.

Teams listed here who have had even a serious "mention" in this thread--CURRENT Realistic prospects below.

1-NDSU
2-SDSU
6- Illinois St.
8- Tarleton
11- Mercer
14- Sacramento
24- SFA
33- EKU
36- Chattanooga




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top CUSA FUTURE prospects as of this moment.


--Tarleton

--EKU, *Chattanooga

--Sacramento (FB-only)

--*SFA

--McNeese

*Have NOT shown public interest in FBS.


The candidates listed are Based from media reports, sports journalists comments, and research shown in this thread.

>>>According to National media reports (and re-affirmed by WKU AD very recently) CUSA will Remain at TEN.

(08-11-2025 12:48 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Pre Season FCS Coaches Poll.

I list teams here who have had even a serious "mention" in this thread--CURRENT Realistic prospects below.

1-NDSU
2-SDSU
6- Illinois St.
8- Tarleton
11- Mercer
14- Sacramento
24- SFA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top CUSA FUTURE prospects as of this moment.


--Tarleton

--EKU, *Chattanooga

--Sacramento (FB-only)

--*SFA

--McNeese

*Have NOT shown public interest in FBS.


The candidates listed are Based from media reports, sports journalists comments, and research shown in this thread.

>>>According to National media reports (and re-affirmed by WKU AD very recently) CUSA will Remain at TEN.

Of note, Normal, IL is less than six hours away from Bowling Green, KY, while Springfield, MO is seven hours from WKU.

If I remember correctly when *Illinois St. was discussed on this board a few months-year ago--the idea was as a FB-only in case CUSA was in desperate need of a school. Many Mo St. fans were For the thought.

Toying with the idea as a hypothetical...

Unlike Most other schools "floated" as possibilities--the analytics on the Redbirds are Strong.

Budget, school size and growth, market, attendance, and facilities are All in the good to Very good range.

Geography--not so much--BUT as a FB-only it "could" work.

*So far they have shown NO Interest in FBS.

{A GREAT/Better possibility for the MAC in the future as a FULL Member.}

So--WHY would they consider CUSA?

IF they wanted FBS and IF the MAC would not take them as a member OR Not as a FB-only member--then CUSA could be a fit for FB-only; allowing them to comfortably/happily stay in the MVC for basketball and all their other sports.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In THEORY a CUSA add of Illinois State as a FB-only might have more support among school Presidents than adding Sacramento. Some "reports" (not verified) said that CUSA will consider FB-only prospects in the future.

This has a LOT of "ifs" so will probably never happen!

Still--I'm always for an open minded/creative consideration of all the possibilities.

(08-11-2025 04:08 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  If I remember correctly when *Illinois St. was discussed on this board a few months-year ago--the idea was as a FB-only in case CUSA was in desperate need of a school. Many Mo St. fans were For the thought.

Toying with the idea as a hypothetical...

Unlike Most other schools "floated" as possibilities--the analytics on the Redbirds are Strong.

Budget, school size and growth, market, attendance, and facilities are All in the good to Very good range.

Geography--not so much--BUT as a FB-only it "could" work.

*So far they have shown NO Interest in FBS.

{A GREAT/Better possibility for the MAC in the future as a FULL Member.}

So--WHY would they consider CUSA?

IF they wanted FBS and IF the MAC would not take them as a member OR Not as a FB-only member--then CUSA could be a fit for FB-only; allowing them to comfortably/happily stay in the MVC for basketball and all their other sports.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In THEORY a CUSA add of Illinois State as a FB-only might have more support among school Presidents than adding Sacramento. Some "reports" (not verified) said that CUSA will consider FB-only prospects in the future.

This has a LOT of "ifs" so will probably never happen!

Still--I'm always for an open minded/creative consideration of all the possibilities.

I do believe there are at least seven MAC Presidents who would agree with you.

https://x.com/SamHerderFCS/status/1955689681989017875

Tennessee Tech to the SoCON in 2026.

Wow!

New Chattanooga University President who just started came directly from TTU after Seven Years as Vice-President in Cookeville.

**********************************************************************

JMHO--This means that Chattanooga is Solidly Committed to the SoCon and is even more unlikely to leave.

I think I better move them to the bottom of the list.

**********************************************************************

8-13-25

Top CUSA FUTURE prospects as of this moment.


--Tarleton

--EKU

--Sacramento (FB-only)

--*SFA

--McNeese, *Chattanooga

*Have NOT shown public interest in FBS.


The candidates listed are Based from media reports, sports journalists comments, and research shown in this thread.

>>>According to National media reports (and re-affirmed by WKU AD very recently) CUSA will Remain at TEN.

(08-13-2025 01:38 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  https://x.com/SamHerderFCS/status/1955689681989017875

Tennessee Tech to the SoCON in 2026.

Wow!

OVC dying a slow death. Morehead only school left that was there when I was a kid. SEMO, Eastern Illinois, and UT-Martin came in not long before MT bolted to the Belt.

If you can't go to college, go to Tech !!

More FCS moves (1 or 2) still coming soon according to Matt Brown.

More FCS to FCS moves probably announced this week.

SoCon, UAC, OVC, CAA are the leagues who could possibly add/lose.

(08-13-2025 01:38 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  https://x.com/SamHerderFCS/status/1955689681989017875

Tennessee Tech to the SoCON in 2026.

Wow!

Wow is right. This is news to me. Bobby Wilder is doing a great job over there.

If you are interested in knowing more about how realignment really works--well, you are reading a realignment forum--take time to read this article.

From Hero Sports and writer KC Smuthwaite.

Some of this does not apply to FBS or CUSA--But quite a bit does>>IF you use your imagination/creativity.

https://herosports.com/fcs-wac-pitch-to-...ague-ksks/

Key points IMO:

"...next wave of realignment — especially at the mid-major [G6]... will be about revenue sharing and aligning with like-minded institutions.

Much of the revenue-sharing conversations center on opting in or opting out — that’s the starting point. But eventually, it will become clearer which schools are more invested than others, and that transparency will drive the alignment that fuels the next wave of realignment."

"When schools and conferences weigh these deals, it goes deeper than logos on a slide...


-- Do we save money?

-- What does travel look like?

-- Do budgets line up?

-- Do sports match up competitively?

-- Are there airline or bus partnerships to make travel work?

-- Is there even an airport nearby?

-- What are we trying to accomplish? Does it make us better?"

*********************************************************************

Many of these points apply to adding an individual school-- but are also applicable to any future conference alliances under consideration.

(08-20-2025 04:11 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  If you are interested in knowing more about how realignment really works--well, you are reading a realignment forum--take time to read this article.

From Hero Sports and writer KC Smuthwaite.

Some of this does not apply to FBS or CUSA--But quite a bit does>>IF you use your imagination/creativity.

https://herosports.com/fcs-wac-pitch-to-...ague-ksks/

Key points IMO:

"...next wave of realignment — especially at the mid-major [G6]... will be about revenue sharing and aligning with like-minded institutions.

Much of the revenue-sharing conversations center on opting in or opting out — that’s the starting point. But eventually, it will become clearer which schools are more invested than others, and that transparency will drive the alignment that fuels the next wave of realignment."

"When schools and conferences weigh these deals, it goes deeper than logos on a slide...


-- Do we save money?

-- What does travel look like?

-- Do budgets line up?

-- Do sports match up competitively?

-- Are there airline or bus partnerships to make travel work?

-- Is there even an airport nearby?

-- What are we trying to accomplish? Does it make us better?"

*********************************************************************

Many of these points apply to adding an individual school-- but are also applicable to any future conference alliances under consideration.

TS, please educate me on revenue sharing and opting in or out, please. Cliff notes version. Where do you see Western in all this?

Every FBS school that I know of "opted in". Just means you are working under the "House" settlement. Scholarship limits, paying players, etc., etc..

It's pretty hard to give a Cliff's notes version.

WKU is in the same boat as most teams (average budget) in the SBC, CUSA, and the MAC. We will (already do) pay some players "something"--but not as much as teams at the very top of G6.

Just got back from dropping my youngest off for her rush week before her freshman year at SFA. And wow, what a difference in the campus since my girl took her campus visit in the spring. The UT System money is flooding in similar to those A&M dollars to Tarleton a few years back that impressed so many of you. The university president told parents their applications tripled this year alone as prospective students now recognize that SFA is an attractive option for CAPs to spend a year to try and get into the school in Austin. My daughter told me that sorority rush numbers doubloed since last year. It turns out that SFA has programs found nowhere else in the UT System like the Pre-Vet program that my daughter has chosen.

What does any of this have to do with CUSA? Count me in the hold the line on membership crowd. But by the time expansion comes up again I believe that SFA will be the clear frontrunner in a few years. Construction has begun all over campus and the enrollment is already ballooning. They have an established FCS program and are not scraping by financially like McNeese.

As for UTRGV being referenced in the other thread, they will be a candidate down the line as well. Times have changed since their days in the Belt when the Broncs were an afterthought in the Valley. The merger with UT-Brownsville combined with the long sought addition of football has the area buzzing. They will be a school to watch moving forward. And while the geography stinks, nearly every game in CUSA is flight already. Not the travel hit to most CUSA budgets that many of you assume.

I just looked at Google maps, and did not realize that UTRGV is south of Tampa and just north of Miami

I've been in the Harlingen area before, and it seemed pretty sparse, back in my boat mfg sales days.

(08-22-2025 08:39 AM)SlyFox Wrote:  Just got back from dropping my youngest off for her rush week before her freshman year at SFA. And wow, what a difference in the campus since my girl took her campus visit in the spring. The UT System money is flooding in similar to those A&M dollars to Tarleton a few years back that impressed so many of you. The university president told parents their applications tripled this year alone as prospective students now recognize that SFA is an attractive option for CAPs to spend a year to try and get into the school in Austin. My daughter told me that sorority rush numbers doubloed since last year. It turns out that SFA has programs found nowhere else in the UT System like the Pre-Vet program that my daughter has chosen.

What does any of this have to do with CUSA? Count me in the hold the line on membership crowd. But by the time expansion comes up again I believe that SFA will be the clear frontrunner in a few years. Construction has begun all over campus and the enrollment is already ballooning. They have an established FCS program and are not scraping by financially like McNeese.

SFA also has the benefit of existing relationships/history with at least a couple of CUSA schools -- Jax State and (of course) Sam Houston.

Without question, their relationship with Sammy is FAR more historic and intense. JSU and SFA were never "rivals" in any sense -- we were merely conference mates for a few short years in the late 90s and early 00s. But that short history is more than we have with schools like Tarleton and UTRGV.

It's good to hear the money is flowing in Nacogdoches again. They were always among my top choices to join us in CUSA, until their financial and administrative situation tanked.

As for UTRGV, they may well end up being a candidate, but (as with Tarleton) I don't think we should be too hasty to hand them an invite. Let them first get their house in order and EARN that invitation.

Whichever school(s) end up getting invited, I want them to be no-brainers. In football, they need to be a consistent Top 10 team. (Top 3 would be ideal. The Dakotas and Montanas can't rule the roost forever.) In basketball, they need to have a NET ranking no lower than 150. (Again, the higher the better.) I want strong baseball, strong women's sports, and an overall solid OLY program.

I'm not saying they need to be conference champions and Tier 1 teams in every single sport. That's unrealistic.

But when I look at a "candidate" -- ANY candidate -- and see a women's team ranked #317, it gives me pause. Is this really what we want to bring into CUSA?

That's just an example I made up -- don't bother looking it up -- but it's very representative of some schools which are often mentioned in expansion discussions. The point is, if a school wants in CUSA, they should be aiming as high as possible in all sports, not settling for the lowest tier.

CUSA is not in the kind of desperation situation where we'd need to overlook such low rankings. All I want is for us to hold candidates (and ourselves) to a higher standard.

Very aware of the changes going on at SFA. Hope their enrollment grows as expected.

But the most essential component will be their Athletic Budget and ability to fund raise if they have any interest in FBS. Cutting three sports recently does not look encouraging at the moment.

**************************************************************

Repeat of key points from the Hero Sports article:


"...next wave of realignment — especially at the mid-major [G6]... will be about revenue sharing and aligning with like-minded institutions.

Much of the revenue-sharing conversations center on opting in or opting out — that’s the starting point. But eventually, it will become clearer which schools are more invested than others, and that transparency will drive the alignment that fuels the next wave of realignment."

(Much more detail in post #1513 above)

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Top CUSA FUTURE prospects as of this moment Do include the Lumberjacks.

IN ORDER IMO.

--Tarleton


--EKU, Sacramento (FB-only)

--*SFA

--McNeese

*Have NOT shown public interest in FBS.


The candidates listed are Based from media reports, sports journalists comments, and research shown in this thread.

Keep in mind>>>According to media reports (and re-affirmed by WKU AD very recently) CUSA will remain at Ten.

NOTE--Be aware that Budgets at JMU, Liberty, Memphis, USF, Tulane and Appalachian St. are starting to or already have taken a significant "lead" over their fellow conference members.

Hero Sports Article from post #1513---

"...next wave of realignment — especially at the mid-major [G6]... Will Be About revenue sharing and aligning with like-minded institutions...

...eventually, it will become clearer which schools are more invested than others, and that transparency will DRIVE the alignment that fuels the next wave of realignment."