With NCAA dropping requirement for conference divisions to have a Championship game, Chris Vanini guesses (no reporting just an educated prediction) AAC will not have divisions when it moves to 14 teams.
Having two best teams play each other for Championship increases chances of New Years Day 6/CFP access
He does report that AAC is working with a consultant on how best to schedule a 14 team football AAC. No results yet.
Behind Athletic paywall.
Personally this is good to hear because travel games to Texas are mostly easier than many AAC East trips like Temple and FAU.
I swag we will have several dedicated nearby annual opponents like UAB and/or Rice and then rotate through rest of conference.
Maybe 2-6–6 so you at least play all conference teams every two years?
AAC Divisions or Not?
- tulaneoutlaw
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Re: AAC Divisions or Not?
We should have at least a permanent partner or two. I'd push for Memphis (most played opponent among AAC schools in 2024) or SMU (third most) for historical and competitive reasons, although I suspect we might also get hitched with Rice (second most) who we have history with.
Otherwise the goal should be to play all the teams in the conference home and home in a 4 year span. That should be doable.
Otherwise the goal should be to play all the teams in the conference home and home in a 4 year span. That should be doable.
- PeteRasche
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Re: AAC Divisions or Not?
Then wouldn't it be better to have divisions broken East/West where we were in a division with all the schools closer to us and therefore would play them more? Or are you afraid we'd get put in the East?
Maybe I'm missing your point but I would think in a West division we'd play those nearer teams every single year and rotate through the farther-away (non division) teams over the course of a few years, whereas with no divisions we'd likely rotate through everyone every few years.
Re: AAC Divisions or Not?
It would likely be 3-5-5 as the conference will be at 14 members so we'd have 13 opponents to account for.
We deserve so much better
Re: AAC Divisions or Not?
Thanks on math correction. Not my Tulane major!
3-5-5 it is.
As to Pete’s point, I would not want Tulane in East for proximity purposes. I usually make three or four road games where driving is manageable.
Regardless I do agree with vanini’s point that a 1-2 matchup is more likely to place AAC Champ in best position regardless of CFP format
3-5-5 it is.
As to Pete’s point, I would not want Tulane in East for proximity purposes. I usually make three or four road games where driving is manageable.
Regardless I do agree with vanini’s point that a 1-2 matchup is more likely to place AAC Champ in best position regardless of CFP format
Re: AAC Divisions or Not?
Pete's point is that you think no divisions is good and will mean closer road games but that is counterintuitive since divisions will generally group together by geography and you will play the division opponents more frequently than the other division.Baywave1 wrote: ↑Thu May 19, 2022 3:17 pm Thanks on math correction. Not my Tulane major!
3-5-5 it is.
As to Pete’s point, I would not want Tulane in East for proximity purposes. I usually make three or four road games where driving is manageable.
Regardless I do agree with vanini’s point that a 1-2 matchup is more likely to place AAC Champ in best position regardless of CFP format
Re: AAC Divisions or Not?
The ACC just announced that they are getting rid of divisions as well. I also read an article on the Pac12 making the same decision starting next year. Their reasoning was similar to the others in that the two top teams will now compete for a championship.
This is a good move for P5 conferences because it’s possible that the 2nd place team could be ranked high enough to still get a NY6 or even CFP berth (in some cases) with a win over the top team. The AAC will get the best matchup available, but the biggest plus is that the champion gets another quality win if they are in a NY6 or CFP position. Rarely will an upset in the AAC championship game allow the second place team to benefit due to coming in with a lower ranking.
With the new scheduling, the AAC may be motivated to keep the two best teams separated to increase the chance of two ranked teams in the championship game.
This is a good move for P5 conferences because it’s possible that the 2nd place team could be ranked high enough to still get a NY6 or even CFP berth (in some cases) with a win over the top team. The AAC will get the best matchup available, but the biggest plus is that the champion gets another quality win if they are in a NY6 or CFP position. Rarely will an upset in the AAC championship game allow the second place team to benefit due to coming in with a lower ranking.
With the new scheduling, the AAC may be motivated to keep the two best teams separated to increase the chance of two ranked teams in the championship game.
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