Conference Realignment: Delaware to Conference USA

[@Christian-fn6yu]

Also great content my man hope you're doing well

[@Christian-fn6yu]

This is huge news I say huge hope they get a few more teams to join the conference Home Run for the Conference USA hopefully this brings more respect to Northeast football I can see them being a member of the American in the next 10 to 15 years

[@lawoflamont15]

can’t wait for Delaware-Temple to be the G5 equivalent of the Backyard Brawl!

[@reverend_wintondupree]

Can't forsee Delaware staying for long in the CUSA. All its old rivalries reside in the Sun Belt and with more natural regional rivalries in the American with Army/Navy/Temple compared to the current CUSA members. Then again the conference landscape may drastically change by 2030 anyway.

[@brendanduffy7463]

hopefully they get some good recruitment and performance year and and up in the American. And hopefully a yearly UMD/UD game

[@tobipadwick6109]

I think that is the downside of the Delaware add. They may be a very temporary add. It is VERY easy to imagine the Sun Belt adding Delaware in the near future as long as Delaware is a geographic outlier in CUSA and as long as CUSA schools want a school with lower travel costs than UMASS as team 12. It is a great move for Delaware in that it unchains them from the Sun Belt's potential lack of interest in offering another FCS school a slot. Now if any school like say Texas State moves to CUSA (a better home), Delaware probably moves into their sunbelt slot.

[@mozilla2576]

Great video! Thanks for your efforts.

[@damascuslutin3956]

I think UMass probably would be the choice for C-USA next they get Delaware a rival in C-USA in the Northeast part of the USA and most importantly UMass wouldn't have to pay the 5 million dollar transition fee

[@chriscurtis83]

If UMASS would move all sports to CUSA then sure. But they are A10 for life and only want to move FB so that’s a big no go.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

Conference USA has posted a video with the AD of Delaware on their you tube channel.

[@yorkqueer]

think they'll add UMass?

[@tobipadwick6109]

A very fine piece of work. Well done.

[@brendanduffy7463]

I say this as a MAryland native and UD alum. I don't agree that Delaware wants to be seen on the same level as UMass, Temple, Buffalo, and JMU. They want to be on the same level as Maryland

[@rileycahill6705]

Absolutely. They want to be seen as a potential BIG10 candidate, but that won’t happen.

[@Chef.WolfHTT]

I’ve pushed for this but the A10 should invite William and Mary, and launch a football conference

[@nashmonti120]

Could you do a video on potential expansion targets for the C-USA? It seems they are intent on bringing up FCS schools that can handle the transition best

[@animenopaawaa]

I would like to see that as well

[@Spitfirethedragon]

Central Arkansas wants FBS to. Missouri State have been in talks with SBC. If CUSA go to 14? I could see Missouri State, Central Arkansas, but I don't see UMass. They are too far away on an island. Stony Brook might be a good target in the number 1 tv media market since it is in the NYC's metro.

[@damascuslutin3956]

Central Arkansas 🐻 works in C-USA it would give LA Tech 🐕 a travel partner and they would be at the same level as Arkansas 🐖 and Arkansas State 🐺 FBS but UCA might have to play home games in Little Rock until their on campus stadium 🏟️ is upgraded

[@chriscurtis83]

UMASS only wants a FB only invite so they are a big no go.

[@Spitfirethedragon]

@@damascuslutin3956 The rules have change, and the 15,000 and stadium seating is not the issue now. They have to do is spend more on medical, staffing and all that. You have to spend like $5 million a year or more on football or was it $8 million.

[@damascuslutin3956]

See Central Arkansas 🐻 on campus stadium 🏟️ isn't FBS ready but they can play home games @War Memorial stadium in Little Rock Arkansas Razorbacks use the stadium occasionally for home games

[@damascuslutin3956]

@@chriscurtis83 it's all or nothing with UMass and C-USA so they might have to suck it up and just do it because the days of schools being 🏈 independent are few in between hell Army finally joined a conference in 🏈 the AMERICAN but I think they should've joined the MAC separating the military schools conference wise making those games fill that much special and Army would've gave Buffalo 🦬 a MAC Buddy in 🏈

[@samcoppock3370]

As a Missouri resident I would love to see Missouri State join C-USA. Just about every state we border has more than one FBS team so there’s no reason we should only have one.

[@natec4339]

I think they'll hold out for a Sun Belt invite. CUSA has shown almost constant instability and has fallen behind the other G5 conferences, except the MAC.

[@samcoppock3370]

@@natec4339 sun belt would be my preference but I’m fine with either at this point lol

[@Agzilla1999]

I'm pulling for MSU to CUSA. I'm not so sure Sun Belt is really an upgrade at this point. But we'll see.

[@damascuslutin3956]

Missouri State 🐻 could actually be a Mac school if they wanted to tab into the Kansas City and St Louis makert

[@animenopaawaa]

I believe that C-USA will eventually add a 12th after Delaware gets in. And in my opinion, that should be a full member like a Stephen F. Austin (to revive the rivalry with Sam Houston, and to potentially form a new C-USA West, should the conference would choose to add division play or not). By adding UMass as a football-only would simply not work, unless if it's for all sports. UMass would fit in the MAC though, to be a travel partner for Buffalo. And for the CAA to replace Delaware, adding Albany would make sense (like they did with Stony Brook), so that both sides (as in football and for other sports) would at least contain 14 schools, despite being 'functionally independent'.

[@damascuslutin3956]

I agree UMass in the MAC would make sense but don't you think they've been done that by now because when UMass arrived in FBS in 2012 they're a 🏈 only until being kicked out of the MAC in 2015 for not joining as a full member in all sports

[@damascuslutin3956]

I think Albany could be a player for MAC expansion in the future

[@tobipadwick6109]

sadly I think SFA might be the most LIKELY scenario. I don't think it is a smart add. There is no TV value in SFA, just travel sense.

[@mozilla2576]

Jlog, your constant need for 12 schools in a conference and divisional play is so outdated. Having 12 schools gives a conference nothing more than 11, 13 or any other number. And division play with 12 schools means they still have to play schools in the other division for every sport. So, it makes no sense and you need to scrap that personal need of yours for number tidiness. Also, travel partners is also way outdated. Please try to get into the age of jet travel. No one walks to games anylonger. Remember, these conferences don't care about your personal desires...please try to think like a conference and less like Jlog.

[@purpledurple621]

I believe Delaware will be in the AAC in 10 years

[@j.thompson9345]

Probably Liberty too.

[@marcus813]

I'm sure Temple wouldn't mind that due to being isolated for sports other than football. I'm a USF alum and I think Delaware would certainly help The American in football.

[@marcus813]

​@@j.thompson9345Liberty would probably be a better fit for the Sun Belt instead.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

@@marcus813 I agree, as it seems like the Sun Belt has done a good join of making sure members are in the same region and thus cutting down travel in all sports. The problem with the Sun Belt is that their overall media deal is weak, but for Liberty that is no problem because of the money they have. Remember Liberty tried to buy their way in the Sun Belt a few years ago, but due to their connection to the Falwell family some schools voted no. With Liberty pushing out the Falwells in any public position, it has made Liberty more accepted to others. They still need to figure out something about the purge of black teachers and athletics that takes place every so often at Liberty due to students and teachers complaining about anti-black racism at the school. I mention this because I was academic recruit to Liberty and anti-black racism has always been something that held Liberty back given the Falwells view points and actions over the decades.

[@jacobsearfoss7983]

I think they will go sunbelt instead. Will be the best group of 5 in another 5 years.

[@tobipadwick6109]

Delaware was a smart add and I think UMASS would be a very smart addition as well. It give you a stable number and it opens the door to the Northeast --- a region where there is no 2nd tier FBS level. Imagine Stony Brook,, W&M, Buffalo and a couple others (army, navy?) in CUSA in the next 5 years creating a division that can actually generate tv revenue (unlike say the MWC).

[@vtwyatt]

CUSA does not have a Mississippi school. They should add Jackson State. 🙂

[@Lawomenshoops]

What WAC football schools are likely to move up to FBS? SFA ACU UTRGV SUU Tarleton Utah Tech

[@jaredstivers]

Add in the A-Sun Group as well. Probably could get Montana, Montana State, NDSU and SDSU to join the WAC or Mountain West. If the PAC Absorb the Mountain West

[@michaelrochester1055]

Eastern Kentucky for CUSA would be my guess

[@damascuslutin3956]

I think the Sun Belt should add EKU and UT Chattanooga going to 16 members EKU would give Marshall a travel partner about a 2 hour drive apart

[@reverend_wintondupree]

Richmond football now leaving the CAA for Patriot, is Villanova soon to follow? W&M and Elon or even Campbell to the SoCon?

[@JosiahYTQuiravoFC]

I Got My Prediction Right

[@fullarmorofgod9638]

Who do you think will be the 12 member?

[@donnie2832]

I wonder if Michigan would want Delaware to change those helmets.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

No, as they okayed it decades ago because one of Michigan coaches ended up at Delaware and brought the Michigan helmet design with them.

[@willbygosh4887]

Bring Missouri State to the CUSA!

[@justinhaase8825]

We are here…

[@depaul1115]

I swear if CUSA adds UMass they didn't learn from last time. No one cared about the last iteration of CUSA because it was too spread out and there was a lack of regional rivals, they're getting to the point where it's about to happen again. Hopefully this isn't the case and they look into more Texas schools like Tarleton and SFA or to revive the EKU-WKU rivalry, if not Judy McLeod needs to step down.

[@Spitfirethedragon]

WKU would block EKU from moving up. Central Arkansas have been very competitive in football against FBS. Here are schools in the FCS that are wanting FBS. Tarleton State Abilene Christian SFAU Lamar Central Arkansas Missouri State Northern Iowa North Dakota State McNeese State Chattanooga Tennessee State EKU Youngstown State Jackson State North Carolina A&T Youngstown State Stony Brook North Alabama Austin Peay State I could see Towson may want to move up now as well since they lost two of their rivals with JMU and Delaware.

[@Lawomenshoops]

CUSA needs to go to 14, in case you lose teams. I can’t see a PAC 14 with sorry schools like San Jose St, New Mexico, or schools with limited population Wyoming. Please don’t tell me that San Jose tied for first in football. In their 10-12 years in the MWC, they have sucked, so the leftover MWC will take schools like UTEP and NMSU. If that happens, CUSA should set their western boundary as Dallas. EKU- unless they get a Sun Belt offer. Instant rival with WKU & a tighter geography. Tarleton St.-they won’t be in FCS long. That $5M fee won’t be an issue. SFA- reestablished that rivalry with Sam Houston. But do they have the $5 million to move up?

[@Agzilla1999]

As a NMSU fan, going with the leftovers of the remaining MW would be a failure. West Coast/Mountain times zone games stay out of the collective national audience's attention. I'd rather CUSA pick up New Mexico and move on from there if that were the case. But adding MoState(12), Central Arkansas(13), and maybe schools like Illinois State(14), UMass(15) and Tarleton State(16). That sets up a nice East/West Alignment. Make the payouts to leave obscene so that schools have a chance to build rivalries and academics. People also seem to forget that many of the schools in the conferences work with each other academically.

[@Lawomenshoops]

@@Agzilla1999 playing in the same conference as UNM isn’t appealing?

[@ReisterJP]

UNM and Texas State would be perfect additions. UNM, NM State, UTEP, TX State, SHS, LA Tech would be an excellent Western division.

[@FelixChavez-cd9tf]

CUSA is getting better and stronger and will soon reign as the number one G5 power!!!

[@souljaragg]

Howard turned down an invite to the CAA a few years ago, maybe they had a change in heart

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

They actual turned it down last year because doing so would of ended the MEAC. If they did not get the Jordan deal and the President was not set for retire in 2024 I pretty sure they would have went to the CAA. The question becomes when the new president takes over, would they reconsider going to the CAA because at the rate Howard is expanding in sports they will have more sports outside of the MEAC then in the MEAC.

[@donnie2832]

This might help the MEAC.

[@colincuratolo1645]

If the CAA gets gutted, could you see Hampton and NCA&T go back to the MEAC?

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

No because the fee and other costs going to FBS is much higher now and thus will slow down schools from trying to make the jump to FBS. I could see other MEAC schools joining the CAA in order to get away from the bad leadership in the MEAC (the leadership at the school are looking for a reason to jump). Also, people need to remember that NC A&T and Hampton jumping was not just a sports related decision, but academic reasons (there is more money in academic research than in sports). I feel part of the reason the CAA change the name from the Colonial to Coastal was get rid of the image of being connected to the colonial area where the majority of black people were enslaved and thus look better to HBCUs for joining. Keep in mind the fee to leave the CAA is a million dollars, so I doubt neither NC A&T or Hampton would want to pay that out. The key to this whole thing is what Howard is going to do, as the recommendation of the feasibility study was to leave for the CAA. The rumor has it that is was the Jordan that deal gave the current Howard president what he needed to delay the move and give the MEAC one year to make improvements in the conference. I suspect that the new president will move Howard to the CAA within the next 3 years or so because the expansion of sports at Howard, as they will have more sports outside of the MEAC then in.

[@LymetimeProductions]

Now to 12??? Orrrrr does WKU and MTSU leave for the more regional MAC down the line?

[@06hilltopper]

Doubt either see the MAC as enough of an upgrade to pay out the small GoR they just signed with CUSA. Also a lot of NCAA credits remain to be paid out as well. Will be at least 4 more years before they think of moving again.

[@LymetimeProductions]

@@06hilltopper it was an option in the last cycle. I believe WKU was heavily interested in it but not without MTSU so it's probably on the table next time out

[@marcus813]

They already had their chance, but Middle Tennessee got cold feet and the MAC wouldn't take WKU alone.

[@jupitervideos7702]

​@marcus813 Which I don't understand because WKU has a better basketball history than any team in the MAC

[@zerocool1980]

The MAC had their chance to expand when they offered an invite to W. Kentucky & Middle Tenn St. They should have at least taken W. Kentucky for now. It might very forced Middle Tenn hand to join.

[@Lawomenshoops]

This should be a 10 team FBS WAC! SDSU USD NDSU UND ACU SFA UTRGV SUU Tarleton Utah Tech

[@p0rridge]

I think the America East should take this chance to sponsor football. In the short term, they might be a bit weaker than the CAA, but they would be far more stable of the two, and the long trips to the Carolinas would be eliminated. I think it could pay massive dividends for them in the long run.

[@coachsimmons]

A&T

[@carlhacker6852]

Good stuff!!!!