For the last 3 years, the American Athletic Conference has marketed itself as being a part of the "Power 6," in contrast to the more recognized Power 5 coalition of conferences. From a financial and historical standpoint, the American clearly trails behind the Power 5 conferences (SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, and PAC-12.)
As the AAC prepares for expansion it must be with the understanding that things have changed over the last decade with the evolution media and technology. While fanbase and a winning tradition will always play a part in recruiting, the combination of TV revenue and media markets is the driving force in today's collegiate landscape. While taking that into account, here are a few expansion options:
Buffalo:
It's New York. It's Buffalo------but it's New York. The University of Buffalo has the second largest student body in the state of New York, second only to NYU. The football in basketball programs have had recent success. The Murchie Family Fieldhouse, opened in 2019, provides Buffalo with a new state-of-the-art indoor athletic training facility. Overall, Buffalo is on an upward trajectory and the AAC would be wise to take a look at them if they plan on expanding the conference beyond the southern region of the country.
Marshall:
Biggest issue with Marshall is the size of their athletic budget, or rather lack thereof. Marshall may not be able to afford to compete year in and year out in a conference where the other schools have such an extreme financial advantage but they are worse taking a look at. Despite a yearly athletic budget south of $30 million and continuous financial troubles, the on-field product along with fan attendance has been a strength for over three decades.
UAB:
Birmingham, Alabama. Home of the iconic iron bowl. The place where college football thrives and professional football dies. In 2014, UAB's football program was terminated due to budget constraints. Since the football program's return in 2017 after a two year absence, UAB has gone to a bowl game in each season. With a brand new 45,000 seat stadium opening and upgraded athletic facilities, UAB is a prime choice for the AAC.
Florida Atlantic:
After losing UCF to the Big 12, the best available option in the state of Florida is FAU. Unlike the University of South Florida, which is actually located on the Gulf Coast of central Florida, FAU offers greater access to a recruiting pipeline in the fertile grounds of Miami and the surrounding areas. The opening of The Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence in 2019 that not only will compete in the AAC but also with other Power 5 schools. They also have an on-campus stadium, named after legendary head coach Howard Schnellenberger, which opened in 2011. It also hosts the Boca Raton Bowl.
Appalachian State:
Small. Rural. Football program is a proven winner. In 2007, Appalachian State made a huge splash across America with an epic victory versus #5 Michigan in Ann Arbor. They parlayed that moment by taking the jump to the FBS level where they've had continued success, increasing their fanbase and brand name along the way.
UTSA:
An upstart program located in San Antonio, UTSA offers the AAC the 3rd largest market in the state of Texas, after losing the University of Houston, the largest. While the city is Houston is also home to Rice University, Rice does not move the needle in terms of marketability.
Despite the absence of an on-campus football stadium and an underwhelming basketball arena, a brand new sports training facility opened this past August which will allow UTSA to be more competitive in recruiting and growing their brand.
Georgia State:
Georgia State is than extremely young football program, playing its inaugural season in 2010. But what Georgia State offers first and foremost is access to a booming Atlanta media market. It's football stadium, once home to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves, underwent a conversion project, giving Georgia State a college football atmosphere that was mostly absent playing at the Georgia Dome.
While once having a decent case for recognition as a Power conference, the loss of the top three schools, Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati to the Big 12 conference ultimately shelves any serious discussion. If the AAC is to be taken seriously, maybe, just maybe it's time to start looking outside of the box.
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