The assumption is if all those conferences are interested who would you pick. I'll add another assumption is that money grows on trees and spending would not be a factor in the decision. If that was the case I'd go for the ACC as it has the more attractive games overall. Then convince Cincinnati and West Virginia to join it. Up the budget to $200 million and place academics on the back burner.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/virginia-tech-board-appr... If I'm thinking where Ohio could with its existing budget and have the best chance of a conference championship then I'd vote for the MWC. Bring Miami and Toledo along and have all 3 join the MVC for other sports. Ohio could stay at the top in the MWC because there is limited talent out west. The midwest schools (NIU, Toledo, Miami, Ohio) would dominate in most years practically bringing the MAC title race to the MWC. Then access to all those west coast destination bowl games would be attractive to pitch on the recruiting trail. I like bowling in Florida with the MAC but I don't enjoy bowling in Alabama or Lousiana.
AAC doesn't have as much room for MAC schools and would be more difficult to win with some programs having borderline P4 recruiting classes and more access to talent in general. Memphis leaving would reduce some of that problem but it won't be as easy to stay on top. Then you'll end up playing SBC teams in a bowl game anyway which is let down from playing all season in a higher profile conference.
Love the reasons behind your picks. Throw in ACC basketball in Athens and it would be extremely exciting. While having the opportunity to play the real Miami sounds amazing, I'm not sure we could realistically recruit or compete in the next 5 years for a championship. It would definitely take about a decade to build our brand there.
Florida is definitely a great destination for bowl games, but the food is much better in Alabama and Louisiana. 😁
Majority thought NIU was crazy for bolting to the MWC, but it looks like they may have gotten overpaid during a time of panic. It's going to take a lot of energy to compete while mostly flying majority of the season. Hopefully MWC can accommodate NIU with a schedule that has several home games in between away games. Maybe later down the road, they can invest in some land in Utah and designate a small campus with practice fields and classrooms there for student-athletes during the season.
I agree with you about the wiggle room the AAC actually has, but I think we can beat Memphis so them leaving or staying wouldn't be a factor for me.
Appreciate your response!