The American expansion

[swilsonsp4]

Here's a piece from Pete Thamel from last night that lays out reasoning behind these potential AAC invitees and the TV payouts for each school.

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-the-aac-close-to-massive-6-school-expansion-to-reshape-conference-014015069.html

[red_n_black_attack]

Thamel: The applications from the six Conference USA schools are trickling into the AAC, according to sources. The application is really a one/two-sentence declaration of interest. The earliest the 6 schools could start in the AAC is 2023-24. An announcement is expected later this week.

That makes sense with the plan for UC to begin Big 12 play in '23. Now we just need to get news on the buyout negotiation.

[GoBearcats31]

Chris Vannini:

Source confirms the AAC is expected today to announce the additions of Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB, UTSA, as @Brett_McMurphy first reported.

With the additions, the AAC will have a stranglehold on owls, containing all three FBS teams nicknamed the Owls (FAU, Rice, Temple). They should make a trophy.

[Lobot]

Chris Vannini:

Source confirms the AAC is expected today to announce the additions of Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB, UTSA, as @Brett_McMurphy first reported.

With the additions, the AAC will have a stranglehold on owls, containing all three FBS teams nicknamed the Owls (FAU, Rice, Temple). They should make a trophy.

The announcement has been made by the AAC. It’s official.

[GoBearcats31]

#Power6 http://theamerican.org/news/2021/10/...versities.aspx

IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference Board of Directors and Commissioner Mike Aresco announced today that six universities have had their applications for membership in The American approved by the conference’s nine continuing members.

The six new institutions, whose membership in The American will begin on a date to be determined, will be:

The University of Alabama at Birmingham – Birmingham, Alabama

Florida Atlantic University – Boca Raton, Florida

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Charlotte, North Carolina

The University of North Texas – Denton, Texas

Rice University – Houston, Texas

The University of Texas at San Antonio – San Antonio, Texas

[Lobot]

They can call it the Superb Owl trophy?

[swilsonsp4]

They can call it the Superb Owl trophy?

Or the "Hoo Gives A Hoot" trophy. (Sorry about that.)

[cpawstoney]

Or the "Hoo Gives A Hoot" trophy. (Sorry about that.)

[Lobot]

Aresco with an open letter to College Football. I think this is pretty much aimed at the ACC who doesn't want to deal with things and took their ball and went home.

https://theamerican.org/news/2022/2/14/an-open-letter-to-college-football.aspx

[bearcatbret]

It is well written.

[Geaux Juan]

I saw this written in an AP article this morning:
"Replacing Houston, Central Florida and Cincinnati will be UAB, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, UTSA, Rice and North Texas.

"The plan calls for the 14 teams to face each other at least twice during the four-year cycle - once at home and once on the road.

"The schedule also will include six annual matchups: North Texas-SMU; UAB-Memphis; Rice-UTSA; Charlotte-East Carolina; Florida Atlantic-South Florida; and Navy-Temple."


The AAC will continue to be division-less and that format will remain for four years. The top two teams will play for the championship.

I like the idea of the annual matchups.