EagleTech

With the CFP expansion there are no more “Power 5” conferences since specific conferences will no longer be assigned auto bids. What will matter now is the overall strength of the conference since the champions of the top 6 rated conferences will get the bids. The PAC-12 has been relatively weak in football for a few years now and the MWC and AAC would have won several of the playoff bids over the past few seasons over the PAC-12 (based on RPI ratings) had the new playoff system been in place over the past few years. And this is with UCLA and USC. Lately even PAC basketball has been weak and will get significantly weaker losing two of their top programs in USC and UCLA. The main benefit of being in the PAC-12 for SMU would be having a closer associations with better brand name universities like Cal and Stanford (assuming they are not next to bolt). However, the Ivy League schools have that too but they are still a mid-major conference athletically. Moving to the PAC will not likely be what SMU fans are expecting for their athletics even if the PAC does not lose any more programs.

Ed Orgeron, Chris Peterson, and Sumlin are apparently in the running at UNLV. Gary Patterson’s name has also been mentioned. These seem like the type of names UNT will be able to go after. https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/unlv/unlv-football/sources-add-orgeron-petersen-to-list-of-unlv-candidates-2688077/

It’s not just about giving Art a chance. Even if the university decides to hire him, he is almost 70 and has been out of the game for 7-8 years. He would also have to recruit and convince parents to overcome any concerns they may have about his past. This would have a very high chance of failing disastrously.

Most candidates seem fantastic at the time they are hired. Lashlee may become a great head coach but he is unproven so we don’t know.

Wren doesn’t seem like he has the type of personality to excel there or want to deal with that fan base. South Florida is a beautiful area but I see them needing and wanting more of a Jimmy Johnson type to run things down there.

You accept whichever offer comes first from the AAC or MWC. The MWC news has been all over the place recently. First, two ADs speak out on the radio about expanding into Texas, then the MWC commish the other day states his preference to hold until they negotiate their next TV deal and that the TV partners don’t see any value adds currently available. We’ve been hearing expansion talk from the MWC for years now and nothing has happened. All UNT can do is keep investing in the program and not settling for mediocrity. That starts with getting a new football coach.

Yep. He corrected himself on Twitter adding UNT to the list with FAU and UTSA. I think that in this case even with SMU in the league, ESPN get’s to dictate who gets added to the league. They do not likely want the MWC or CUSA to end up with UNT considering the programs bright future. UNT is closer to being the next UCF than either FAU or UTSA.

If the MWC were to lose Boise State, San Diego State, and Air Force, I don’t think leaving to the MWC to backfill would be a good move. CUSA and maybe even the SBC would be better leagues with more potential. The remaining MWC schools would mostly be remote in sparsely populated western states without the potential for growth of some of the CUSA and SBC programs.

Most likely they will either stay put for a few years or add seperate football only and olympic sports only members like they have with Navy and Wichita State. Maybe add Army (football) and VCU (olympic sports).

Regarding the MWC, it is probably more likely that the MWC loses a member to the AAC and UNT gets invited as a replacement. Not sure how attractive the already top heavy MWC would be losing one of it’s top programs.In 5-10 years, CUSA may be better than the MWC.

Expansion may not happen until 5-10 year time frame anyway. The AAC may be fine with 11 members for now and not rushing in to a decision. This could help a school like UNT which is trending upwards in all sports and as university.

Kiffin is putting together serious talent at least based on the recruiting rankings. Francois’ 247 rating was at a high 4 star level out of high school but would only be, I think, third on the team. They have a 5 star OL transfer from Auburn and a former bama RB on the team rated even higher out of HS. Not sure I’m missing someone else. Who knows how well they’ll play together on the field though. We saw how well their current 4 star qb Robison did last year.

I think the flight left from McKinney not Denton. It landed in Tulsa, Ok before heading to Manhattan.