Report: Sun Belt, Conference USA exploring expansion opportunities

The Sun Belt and Conference USA are exploring expansion opportunities, according to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports. The teams under consideration include independent schools Liberty and Old Dominion, along with FCS powerhouse James Madison.

This round of conference re-alignment was set off by the SEC, adding Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12. That set off a series of rumors, an alliance, and more realignment.

The Big 12 made its move, accepting former American schools Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, as well as independent school BYU. Needing replacements, the AAC recently received applications from Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA. All six are Conference USA schools looking for an upgrade.

According to Thamel, that move triggered another round, featuring an expansion power struggle between the Sun Belt and Conference USA. The potential exodus from Conference USA offers a unique situation. Schools like Marshall and Southern Miss will be given a choice between the two conferences.

The Sun Belt is currently targeting James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss. Conference USA is also looking at James Madison and Liberty.

Eric Prisbell on CFP expansion

The unveiling of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff model just a few months ago was radical not only in its format — tripling the size of the current field — but also in the speed at which it all seemed to come together.

For at least a century or so, change in college sports always has arrived at a glacier-like pace. This was going to be different. Until it wasn’t.

As the simmering animosity toward the SEC and, in some corners, ESPN continued throughout the summer, Wednesday’s decision by the College Football Playoff’s Management Committee to pump the brakes on an imminent expansion vote next week was inevitable. The reasons are multifaceted and begin with — shocker! — money.

Most stakeholders believe there are far too many dollars at stake with a potential expanded postseason package just to award it all to ESPN at a discounted rate for the sake of beginning the larger tournament sooner. ESPN could be asked to pay an above-market price for more playoff games, or split the expanded format with another network before its media rights deal expires in 2026. But few see adequate incentive for ESPN to do so.

The preferred option, and the one most lucrative to the college football world, is to bring the expanded format — be it eight or 12 teams — to the open market and have multiple bidders drive up the price. Divvy up the package among networks, perhaps even allowing a streaming service (Amazon?) to get a small slice, and start the larger event after the current ESPN deal expires.