Appalachian State and Georgia Southern to Move Up

[allcat]

I am curious as too the numbers of programs that moved fron 1AA to 1A, versus the numbers that monved from division 2 up to 1AA.

[kmax]

Of course there's a tipping point, but we aren't there yet. The four Dakota schools are a great addition, but those are the last of the non-directional state schools. Once everyone else goes we'll go, but I won't be surprised if teams in the FBS start coming back to FCS or a new division is formed by the NCAA. I think the NCAA needs to research the FBS mids and see how they feel about some kind of re-org. We fit with a lot of those schools.

Exactly. Of course there is a tipping point but seeing a few current powers go now is no different than in the 90's when the Big Sky powers at the time moved along with others from back east. The thing is, just as there is a tipping point for losing too much quality from FCS to make it viable, there is a tipping point to watering down FBS too much to make the bottom end viable (at least in the eyes of the top end) any longer. I would argue we are much closer to the latter than the former.

[SonomaCat]

I wonder how the new playoffs (and the expectation that they will eventually expand) is impacting everything? If they get to a point where we're looking at a 16 team legit playoff system (perhaps with autobids, although those would be hard to come by for the weaker conferences due to money hoarding by the bigs) in FBS, maybe that creates an environment where its a lot more appealing for the weaker programs? It would create a ton more money, certainly, than the bowls alone, and maybe it's a carrot that gives a chance (not a great chance, but a chance) for even the traditionally weaker programs to get into a national championship position (a playoff bid)?

[MSU01]

I am curious as too the numbers of programs that moved fron 1AA to 1A, versus the numbers that monved from division 2 up to 1AA.

Well, in 1996 (the year before Marshall moved up) there were 13 Division 1-AA conferences. In 2012, there were also 13 FCS conferences. It would take a bit more research looking at the number of teams in each conference in order to determine the overall change, but it certainly doesn't seem as though the size of 1-AA/FCS is decreasing given that the Big Sky is now up to 13 compared to 8 in '96 (I believe '96 was the year that Boise and Idaho left the Big Sky).

Edit: Boise and Idaho did leave in '96, but were replaced by Sac, PSU, and Northridge that same year. So the BSC had 9 schools that year and until 2001 when Northridge left.

[John K]

I wonder how the new playoffs (and the expectation that they will eventually expand) is impacting everything? If they get to a point where we're looking at a 16 team legit playoff system (perhaps with autobids, although those would be hard to come by for the weaker conferences due to money hoarding by the bigs) in FBS, maybe that creates an environment where its a lot more appealing for the weaker programs? It would create a ton more money, certainly, than the bowls alone, and maybe it's a carrot that gives a chance (not a great chance, but a chance) for even the traditionally weaker programs to get into a national championship position (a playoff bid)?

I'm sure that's what all the lower-tier FBS programs are hoping will eventually transpire, but I don't think it will happen. I think there's a far better chance that the five remaining BCS conferences will form their own division (there's some speculation that they may eventually even bolt from the NCAA). That will likely lead to the lower-tier FBS (many of whom were once FCS) and upper-tier FCS forming a new division that will essentially still be FCS (it won't be the highest level of college football) except with a new name. The five power conferences will still get all the media attention, and almost all the money, and nothing will have really changed, except that most of the programs that have moved up over the years will find themselves back in the 2nd tier again, which is where they belonged all along.

[codecat]

I know Liberty has said they want to move up...looks like they may have a chance...

Liberty athletic director: We're a Sun Belt option
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Lynchburg, VA (Sports Network) - Liberty University athletic director Jeff Barber publically acknowledged Tuesday night that his school is being considered for membership in the Sun Belt Conference.