Conference realignment "Rumors" "tweets" "etc"

[Rocky Style]

8 minutes ago, NewEnglandBull said:

Two years of being undefeated was the main catalyst along with their bowl win and beating ND. 

I think that is a thing.  You really need a year to get on the radar and then things to magically line up on the second year.

[Jim Johnson]

43 minutes ago, John Lewis said:

By winning a road game versus a Top 5 team.

We'd have 2 potential opportunities for Top 10 road wins in 2025. Conference resume may not be as strong as Cincy' was  in 2021, but I'd argue that winning at UF and Miami, who could both be conference champions in 2025, is better than what Cincy accomplished.

It was the 2020 season and their pre-season rankings that set them up to succeed in 2021.

USF would have to have a strong (11-1? 10-2?) 2024 and be Top 15 in 2025 to get a whiff of the playoffs.

[Mission9]

[USFBULL_08]

1 hour ago, UCF_rustbucket said:

It's a little bit of work and on their end and then some luck with the stars aligning.

 

Just my opinion but the formula for G5 seems to be that you need 2 NY6 years in a row to realistically have a chance. Then to seal the deal, you have to luck into having 1 or 2 ranked P5 teams in the 2nd year of this run. 

 

We can look at 15-16 UH, 17-18 UCF, and 20-21 Cincy. Houston checked the box for year 1, had the schedule for year 2 and even beat the big ranked P5 teams, but stumbled against conference opponents and didn't make it. UCF managed 2 NY6 years in a row, but without even 1 big ranked P5 teams in 2018 it was never going to happen. Cincy finally got all the elements. The 2 year run with the signature P5 win in year 2. Along with enough losses for the P5 champs from the ACC, Big 12, and PAC 12 that could've taken their spot. 

Can't compare those teams to the conference we are about to be in. AAC got somewhat legitimized by the teams that are leaving. The new AAC will have about the same respect as the Sunbelt and will have to prove itself again.

 

[TallyBull]

32 minutes ago, Mission9 said:

This is where I am with all this. All this talk of playoffs and national championships. I mean, I guess a guy can dream, but - how about we break .500 first? 

At this point, I’d be delighted to suffer the indignity of having an 11-1 or 12-0 season, only to be shut out of the CFP due to strength of schedule/weak conference issues. First things first. 
 

[Mission9]

1 minute ago, TallyBull said:

This is where I am with all this. All this talk of playoffs and national championships. I mean, I guess a guy can dream, but - how about we break .500 first? 

At this point, I’d be delighted to suffer the indignity of having an 11-1 or 12-0 season, only to be shut out of the CFP due to strength of schedule/weak conference issues. First things first. 
 

I have no issues with the discussion, just have to admit it is somewhat absurd given the record of the team the last 3 years.  I will qualify that it is no more absurd than the fact that college football is the only sport I know of in which you can go undefeated and not even be allowed to participate in a playoff. 

[Brad]

Did anyone say media sympathy and support?

[Triple B]

7 minutes ago, Brad said:

Did anyone say media sympathy and support?

No?

[Brad]

No.

[UCF_rustbucket]

1 hour ago, USFBULL_08 said:

Can't compare those teams to the conference we are about to be in. AAC got somewhat legitimized by the teams that are leaving. The new AAC will have about the same respect as the Sunbelt and will have to prove itself again.

 

Fair point. I'll say though that Houston was probably the best test for this with a conference reputation still in flux. In 2016, the AAC had 1 BCS appearance in 2013 and Houston's own NY6 appearance in 2015 so the AAC hadn't firmly established itself as top G5 dog. With the right schedule it could still be possible in the new AAC over a 2 year run. It'll be easier though if an expanded playoff is approved because then it's likely that the bar for entry for the G5 team will be the same as it is now for non-playoff NY6 bowls. Just be the highest ranked G5 champ.