The Really Big Week 8 Thing Was …
The American Athletic Conference expanded, and it might not be the plus it should be.
It all flew way under the radar because 1) nothing could beat the shocker of Texas and Oklahoma all of sudden deciding to up and leave the Big 12 for the SEC, and 2) it all hit just before the weekend of massive sporting events was about to get going.
But it should say something that it barely registered a blip.
The American Athletic Conference’s announcement that it was adding Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Rice, UAB, North Texas, and UTSA is a dream college football storyline in late May. In late October, nope.
Anecdotally, anything on the site written about it – like my 10 Quick Thoughts piece – received the bare minimum of traffic and interest, and out of the 15 or so radio appearances I did over the last few days, the subject was brought up once, and only for a brief second, and only because the co-host went to North Texas.
But it matters.
It means the American Athletic Conference is still alive. It lost UCF, Houston, and Cincinnati to the Big 12, but it’s still going forward.
It means the Sun Belt is about to get stronger by adding Southern Miss, and it means Conference USA has some work to do, and it means …
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I’m sorry, I know this story didn’t do much for you, but this really is a big deal – as if it’s a big deal if I keep saying it’s a big deal.
It means the big are only going to get bigger, the Big 12 is still a thing, and it means the Mountain West is going to be the strongest of the Power Five conferences – if it can keep its members.
The Big 12 is already expanding west with BYU – adding Boise State, Nevada, and maybe San Diego State would expand the footprint, but that’s who the American Athletic Conference should’ve gone after full bore.
This story didn’t make any noise because it was Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Rice, UAB, North Texas, and UTSA. They’re fun programs with good fan bases and a whole lot of excitement, but all it means is that the AAC isn’t getting the attractive Mountain West programs, and if anything, it means the Mountain West might have some moves to make.
And it means the Pac-12 had better wake up fast and take the win with Nevada and San Diego State while it still can, and …
I know, I know. Back to the football side of things and we’ll save this for the offseason.
– Service academies, Pickett Winners & Losers
– OU-Kansas: Most Overrated Thing
– ACC & CFP: Most Underrated Thing
– Curveballs coming What It All Means, Week 8