This is only a step up if FAU, new members and remaining members can sustain that level and somewhat dominate the other G5 groups while maintaining few teams in the top 25 during the season. If not, we are like any other G5 average conference.

Two things:

• the AAC is the successor entity to the Big East. It even has the same commissioner, as Rick pointed out. It literally is the Big East for all purposes except for name.
• the "new" AAC will have 4 teams ranked higher than ANY Sun Belt team and 3 teams ranked higher than ANY Mountain West team. Sure, it must be sustained - but the teams in the AAC have shown a commitment to winning football. As it stands today, it is a gigantic step up and is the clear cut top G5.

NITE-OWL said

This is only a step up if FAU, new members and remaining members can sustain that level and somewhat dominate the other G5 groups while maintaining few teams in the top 25 during the season. If not, we are like any other G5 average conference.

Posted On: Dec 28th 2022, 3:07 PM #411664

This is true. Only considered a step up if all teams present keep up with what has been done to this point.

The revenue in TV money in of itself signifies a step up imo. We will be on the same level operationally as USF which ten years ago we all would have loved to

LawOwl said

The revenue in TV money in of itself signifies a step up imo. We will be on the same level operationally as USF which ten years ago we all would have loved to

Posted On: Dec 28th 2022, 5:23 PM #411668

Yes and no.

While FAU gets a big jump in money the schools who were already in the AAC will get more.

Maybe Rick can find the numbers but FAU will get less than schools like Memphis and SMU etc.

Now that FAU is in the American donors and fans gotta step up more than ever.

In C-USA FAU has better facilties than most, but in the American everyone has mostly nice stuff.

Think of it this way, we were just in a nice house in a bad neighborhood and we got a promotion and raise at work, and now are move into nicer neighborhood. Now though in order to keep up with your new neighbors you gotta get a new car, join the country club, and send the kids to the private school up the street.

FAU also needs a collective in bad. To recruit at the top of the American the kids are not just going to come because they love palm trees. It is also very important in trying to keep players on roster who are getting calls.

Owls2013 said

Maybe Rick can find the numbers but FAU will get less than schools like Memphis and SMU etc.

Posted On: Dec 28th 2022, 8:48 PM #411671

I don't have numbers directly from FAU (they didn't know at time of last inquiry), but Thamel put out that the newcomers will receive "above" $2M out of the gate in a ramp up to increase annually, while current members are expected to continue to receive $7M on average.

My understanding after reading this was that the new deal would provide the same tv revenue to all schools, including us… did I miss something?


  AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco: “We have lost three teams, but they are not irreplaceable.â€� - HERO Sports

Don't know anything about Hero Sports and Marc Narducci's report, but maybe he is just referring to the current members.

That said, based on what FAU told me, and what Thamel put out, incoming schools are not getting the same money legacy members receive.

"The AAC Presidents have met and accepted the six Conference USA schools to join the league – UAB, Rice, North Texas, FAU, Charlotte and UAB. The new schools are expected to start at above $2 million annually from the TV deal, and it will escalate from there. The expectation remains among the remaining eight American schools that they will remain essentially whole in their television deal, which averages $7 million per school over the life of the deal." - Thamel

Rick said

Don't know anything about Hero Sports and Marc Narducci's report, but maybe he is just referring to the current members.

That said, based on what FAU told me, and what Thamel put out, incoming schools are not getting the same money legacy members receive.

"The AAC Presidents have met and accepted the six Conference USA schools to join the league – UAB, Rice, North Texas, FAU, Charlotte and UAB. The new schools are expected to start at above $2 million annually from the TV deal, and it will escalate from there. The expectation remains among the remaining eight American schools that they will remain essentially whole in their television deal, which averages $7 million per school over the life of the deal." - Thamel

Posted On: Dec 29th 2022, 9:41 AM #411679

New schools NEVER get the same money as the holdover members. Part of the financial deal to get in, like paying back a loan!

News about Army possibly joining the AAC;

https://sports.yahoo.com/army-could-be-joining-aac-in-the-coming-weeks-but-a-few-hurdles-remain-175403571.html

Don't know why for football only but still a good move for a conference named the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Now make the Air Force Acadamy a target too!