Of all the division 1 FBS conferences to be affected by the bombshell realignment moves in NCAA sports, Conference USA might be the one who took the hardest hit. From 14 solid members to five and now to nine or ten, CUSA has done all it can to keep itself and its members afloat as a conference. But that hasn't stopped speculation on where they could go from here.
As the conference with the most likely chance at expanding right now, CUSA has garnered eyes on its future moves, specifically pertaining to FCS programs it could pluck to further bolster its roster of teams. But the need for a G5 conference, especially one like CUSA, to even get to 12 members doesn't feel as strong as it once did. If it does, though, the probable additions are all over the place. With realignment and growing conference size becoming the norm for NCAA conferences, can we learn something from CUSA's potential next steps that might inform us on what the norm might be in the future?
As a speculatory video, the purpose of this essay isn't so much to "inform" as much as it is to spurn discussion. The kickback goes to you, as the viewer---what do you think they should do? What response is necessary, if any? Is simply staying afloat at the FBS level reason enough to celebrate, given the fates seen by other G5 conferences in the past, like the WAC?
19 окт 2023
