Conference realignment: The American adds six from Conference USA

There were some major conference realignment changes made, but the Big Ten still has no reason to make more moves.

The American Athletic Conference is certainly no stranger to conference realignment changes. After all, this is essentially a re-branded Big East football conference that is the product of seismic shifts in prior rounds of massive conference realignment changes around the country. After losing some key members to the Big 12, the AAC has officially added a half dozen teams from Conference USA.

It was truly a milestone day for The American as they formally welcomed their six newest members; UAB, Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, and UTSA. The expansion move by the AAC brings the conference’s total projected membership up to 15 members in total, and 14 participating members in football and basketball. Navy is a football-only member of the AAC and Wichita State is a basketball-only member.

The American recently learned it was about to lose three key members to the Big 12 with Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF opting to leave the conference and join the Big 12, along with BYU. The Big 12, of course, is going to be losing Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC.

The timing of all of these conference realignment changes remains to be determined, and the timeline of these changes may be influenced by just how quickly Oklahoma and Texas can bolt and get playing in the SEC.

Naturally, these moves is a devastating blow to the status of Conference USA, and the hits may continue to come for Conference USA. In a stunning show of how much the times have changed, the Sun Belt Conference could be poaching a few other Conference USA members in due time. Southern Miss, Marshall, and Old Dominion are on the Sun Belt’s radar, as is FCS powerhouse James Madison.

As for the Big Ten, there are still no rumblings that would suggest the conference is looking to expand its current membership. The idea the Big Ten could add a team or two from the Pac-12 always felt out of place, so unless Notre Dame calls up Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and says they want in, all should remain calm on the Big Ten expansion front.

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