Burmy

Please don't link to bleacher report. In fact, stop reading bleacher report. Legit news source here. If I'm the Conference USA, I either make sure this Mountain West merger goes for all sports or I make my pitch to Louisiana Tech and/or a few good Sun Belt schools (maybe even Appalachian State, Wofford, or Georgia Southern from the FCS SoCon) that have wanted to step up to the next level.

I don't believe the NCAA has authority over BCS status. The BCS is a seperate organization and only they can determine that. They can ban them from postseason play, but that's it in regards to the BCS. My thing with Penn State and possible sanctions is, everything that went on was completely horrible, and those in the positions of authority should be properly dealt with. But unlike all the recruiting violations and agent related violations, this had absolutely NOTHING to do with the players. In recruiting scenarios, it involves a coach violating the recruitment of a player. Ohio State's scandal involved players. These players had no knowledge of what had happened before. They didn't play under Sandusky and have no bearing on what happened. I don't think it would be entirely fair to punish them. Force the school to replace all the coaches and administrators. But why punish the players? Well, I'd imagine the players would NOT want to be associated with that school anymore...the NCAA should at least allow them to transfer without losing any eligibility.

Southland Conference visits Houston Baptist, extremely impressed and approval looks to be a formality...but the Huskies will play football whether they get accepted or not.

1. I actually think once Navy and Air Force officially join, Army will think about it again...the main reason West Point told the Big East to get lost before was because the other two service academies hadn't joined yet...Army and Navy seem like the ultimate package deal to me. (Plus that would make 12, enough for that ever-important Championship Game) 2. Wonder how Conference USA is gonna rebuild...there has been talk of Appalachian State moving up to D1 to join once C-USA gets raided.

And now Houston Baptist is being courted by the Southland...and might even start a football program!

Army? With Cuse leaving, this shouldn't matter. St. John's anyone?

I could see a compromise, with the effective move date being July 1, 2013 (remember, a few schools that joined new conferences this time last year won't have the moves take effect until next year)

What a shame...I was really hoping Pitt would've joined the Big Ten (they meet all the criteria, fit into their geographical footstep, plus we REALLY miss the ol' rivalry with Penn State that woulda resumed)

For once, I think a super-conference switch might actually BENEFIT college basketball this time (Kansas vs. the likes of Louisville, Georgetown, Syracuse, and UConn every year...I drool at the very thought)

The reason I came up with UTEP and Tulsa is that they've been doing pretty good in both football and basketball-like a lot of you said, the Big XII's looking for just that.

They just want Dan Beebe to know that they are interested and that last time they were not as ready to lobby for status as Baylor was. Since the conference is headquartered in nearby Irving, SMU could have just sent either a Cookie Bouquet or an Ediable Arrangement to the offices and another one to C-USA (1.5 miles away) saying, "No Hard Feelings, but they are prettier". Just one trip for the delivery driver. I'm sorry, but SMU is #4 at best when it comes to schools I could see joining the Big XII. (Houston, UTEP, and Tulsa would be more appealing)

I, for one, have always thought the Big East and ACC should do a "trade". Boston College comes back to the Big East, South Florida goes to the ACC. A win-win scenario all around (might not be likely, but sounds natural)

I heard the West Coast Conference was where they were looking...

With all this expansion, pretty soon the Mountain West will be big enough to have a championship game. That said: which sites in the area would make good ones for that game? (Personally, my money's on the Alamodome if the MWC/WAC football merger does indeed take place)

And now the Idaho Vandals are reported to be talking to the Mountain West: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2011/jan/20/vandals-pursuing-mwc-membership/ Also mentions San Jose State and Utah State...I think this image is safe to post now (since every suggestion I made for the WAC to pick up, you've quickly refuted): How long before we see the Big Sky make the "conference jump" to FBS?

So, how soon before the WAC tries to pick up Eastern Washington?

Here are some other moves I can see happening... Butler to Missouri Valley in all sports (the current national runners-up seem primed for a step up, though not too big of one) Jacksonville and/or Jacksonville State to Sun Belt (They're already doing quite well in FCS, time for a tiny step up, plus the loss of Denver and UNO leaves a hole for the Sun Belt). That's pretty much it for now...

Here's my review: Denver: Good move. They stuck out like a sore thumb in the Sun Belt, so it's good that they found a conference more in their geographic footprint. Now if only the Pioneers could bring back football (they're one of the few schools which don't have it right now that could certainly afford it). Texas State: It's because of the name, isn't it? The football program is a perennial FCS contender, but Bobcat Stadium will need some major expansion if they want to make it work. UTSA: Also a good move. San Antonio is a blossoming sports market, plus the Roadrunners are bringing in football and playing in the Alamodome (which has been trying to get a solid tenant for two decades now). Quite a catch here. (the I-35 rivalry with Texas State will certainly be a highlight). They're looking for one more to fill in the puzzle, and from what I hear, Portland State isn't being considered. Here are my potential suggestions: Sacramento State: Solid stadium & fanbase, plus the Hornets would help the WAC regain the Central Valley market they'll lose when Fresno State bolts for the MWC. Idaho State: If for no other reason than to respark the Vandal-Bengal rivalry (Idaho will need an in-state rival once Boise State goes MWC too). North Texas: Now that they'll have San Antonio on lock again, I think they should get their piece of the pie which is the DFW Metroplex. The Mean Green has a sparkling new football stadium, and their basketball team is the class of the Sun Belt. Time to upgrade! At this point, I think that's pretty much it...

Villanova already has been: http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110210aac.html 1. Philly will actually have a solid FBS program (they'll have priority for the Linc, so where will Temple go?) 2. I hope they get to play Notre Dame and Boston College every season...the Catholic Cup deserves to remain!

Here's my proposal for MLB: To ensure each league has an equal (but still even) number of teams, two teams are added to the American League, and the major league frontier is officially closed: AMERICAN LEAGUE North Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Minnesota Twins South Charlotte TBD Kansas City Royals Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers East Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Toronto Blue Jays West Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Portland TBD Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners NATIONAL LEAGUE North Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Milwaukee Brewers St. Louis Cardinals South Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves Houston Astros Miami Marlins East New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates Washington Nationals West Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants

OK...here's my review for who's left in the WAC. Hawaii: Big question mark. Idaho: Staying put unless everybody else leaves. Louisiana Tech: Conference USA should send an invite. New Mexico State: MWC will likely try luring them too (UNM-NMSU rivalry in-conference) San Jose State: Ditto here (now that FSU's in the MWC and the future of SDSU football is pretty murky) Utah State: Will likely stay unless everybody else leaves. Which brings us to the question: "Who will the WAC try luring?" My gut feeling is they'll cherry-pick the FCS Big Sky, so the most logical options would be Montana (football AND basketball juggernaut), Portland State (major market, newly renovated stadium also home to an MLS team), and Sacramento State (to reestablish the Central Valley market). They might try for Eastern Washington (to continue a Portland State rivalry), Idaho State (to give Idaho an in-state in-conference rival again), and Montana State (if Montana wants to play hardball about joining). Which leaves me wondering how NAU, NCU, and Weber State would do for themselves...

With TCU and BYU in that mix...that's a top four better than a few BCS conferences' top four! (So now there's no excuse not to make the Mountain West an automatic BCS conference)

Note that article says that the WAC is considering looking at FCS schools to move up to FBS. Personally, I say the Sky's the limit (literally) I would LOVE to see any of these schools in the WAC (but I think Montana's a shoo-in to move up. Football AND basketball are both dominant there!)

I believe we could see conferences like the MAC, Sun Belt, and C-USA take a voluntary relegation to FCS (I-AA) when all is said and done...