They’ll have the chance to do that this week against a Navy team that’s ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press Top 25. College football betting odds have Navy as a 16.5-point favorite.

The 49ers are on a two-game win streak after beating Rice two weeks ago and are coming off a dominant 55-24 win over East Carolina where they scored four first-half touchdowns. Most of the production was on the ground as Charlotte rushed for 311 yards and six touchdowns. Junior running back Hahsaun Wilson led the way with 164 yards and three scores. He averaged 10.9 yards per carry.

Charlotte already has as many wins as it had the last two seasons, where it went 3-9 both years, and is 2-0 in AAC play. 

Now in head coach Biff Poggi’s second season, the 49ers look like they have improved. How much improvement they’ve made, though, will be telling in the upcoming month. 

The non-conference slate wasn’t the easiest as Charlotte played James Madison, North Carolina, and Indiana. Things don’t get much easier going forward. Following this week’s contest at Navy, the 49ers will visit Memphis and then host Tulane. Those are three teams that are ranked in the top 10 in the HERO Sports G5 Top 25. They’ll then have a bye week before hosting USF.

It’s a great thing for the 49ers that they’re coming off a bye and are playing their best football so far going into this stretch. 

The bye week was much needed as they prepare for quarterback Blake Horvath and the Navy rushing attack. Charlotte will need to be better against the run if it wants a chance to win this game. It is allowing 182 rushing yards per contest. 

Charlotte will also have a quarterback situation to figure out here in the near future. Starter Max Brown was injured in Week 2 against North Carolina and is expected to be returning soon after recovering from thumb surgery. Brown is expected to remain the starter when he returns, but freshman Deshawn Purdie has been playing well in his absence. Trexler Ivey has also spent some time under center, but Purdie has played much better.

Ivey started against Rice before he was replaced by Purdie in the second half, where Charlotte scored all 21 of its points. 

Purdie has passed for 717 yards and four touchdowns through four games this season. He’s only thrown one interception. The 49ers are 3-0 in the games where he has taken a majority of the snaps.

It’s hard to turn away from a quarterback who has the hot hand, but Brown is the more experienced signal caller. I don’t necessarily think that means he will give the 49ers the best chance to pick up an upset in one of these games, however.

I think Charlotte can beat FAU and UAB in its last two weeks of the season, meaning a win in these next four games could lead to a bowl game. It’ll be fun to see how it all plays out.

Charlotte at Navy Football Prediction

I predict Navy will win by three touchdowns and cover the 16.5-point spread. The Midshipmen are 4-1 against the spread this season and 3-0 as a favorite. As mentioned above, Charlotte’s rush defense has been suspect, and the inexperienced Purdie will have a tall task ahead of him.

The post Charlotte 49ers Football Riding Its First Win Streak Since 2021 appeared first on HERO Sports.

North Texas is coming off a 41-37 win at Florida Atlantic that included a wild comeback. 

Memphis was the preseason pick by the media to win the AAC, but the Tigers dug themselves in an early hole with a 56-44 loss to Navy, so the margin of error is small.

The loser of the Memphis-UNT game would still be in the AAC race, although a Memphis loss could be more damaging since the Tigers have already one league loss. 

North Texas-Memphis How To Watch

North Texas (5-1, 2-0 AAC) at Memphis (5-1, 1-1), 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday

TV: ESPNU

North Texas-Memphis Betting Line

Memphis is a 12.5-point favorite with a -400 moneyline. The Over/Under for the game is 66.5 total points.

North Texas-Memphis Coaches

North Texas: Eric Morris (10-8 at North Texas, 34-26 overall)

Memphis: Ryan Silverfield (36-19)

Last meeting: Oct. 28, 2023 – Memphis won 45-42 at North Texas

Seth Henigan fired a 36-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Scates with 10 seconds left to give Memphis the comeback win. 

North Texas trailed 38-21 early in the fourth quarter before scoring three touchdowns to take a 42-38 lead. Henigan completed 22 of 28 passes for 330 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. Chandler Rogers threw for 411 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions for North Texas. 

Why The North Texas-Memphis Game Is Important

A second AAC loss by Memphis would be disastrous for the Tigers, while North Texas is in the beginning of a three-game stretch that will determine whether the Mean Green will contend for a league title. After Memphis, North Texas visits Tulane and then hosts Army. Those two teams are a combined 7-0 in the AAC.

North Texas-Memphis Preview

For North Texas

The Mean Green have won three in a row since losing 66-21 at Texas Tech. North Texas needed an impressive comeback during last week’s 41-37 win at FAU. The Mean Green went down 37-27 when FAU kicked a field goal with 4:21 left. DT Sheffield would then catch two touchdown passes from Chandler Morris, the second with 58 seconds remaining.

Morris completed 27 of 45 passes for 336 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. Sheffield caught 11 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Mean Green have been a second-half team, outscoring opponents 135-63 after intermission this season. 

Morris has completed 64.3% of his passes for 1,979 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Four UNT players have rushed for between 100 and 220 yards. Sheffield has 34 receptions for 443 yards and seven touchdowns. Safety Jayden Hill, who spent the previous four seasons at Division II Ohio Dominican, leads the team with 43 tackles. 

The Mean Green are third in the AAC in scoring (40.8 points per game) but 11th in scoring defense, allowing 33 PPG.

For Memphis

The Tigers have won two in a row since the aforementioned loss to Navy. Memphis is coming off last week’s 21-3 win over South Florida in Orlando. Memphis held USF to just 24 rushing yards on 19 attempts and forced three turnovers. USF was 1 for 13 on third downs. Henigan completed 28 of 40 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. The Tigers had possession for 41 minutes, 38 seconds. 

Henigan is now tied with Brady White for the most wins at Memphis by a starting quarterback with 28. 

The Tigers have now scored at least 20 points in 33 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the nation. 

Henigan has been efficient, but he hasn’t enjoyed the breakout season that many expected. He has completed 65.1% of his passes for 1,547 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. 

South Carolina transfer Mario Anderson Jr. has rushed for 456 yards and eight touchdowns. Seven different players have caught at least one touchdown pass in the Tigers’ balanced passing attack.

Roc Taylor has 26 receptions for 375 yards and a touchdown. 

Linebacker Chandler Morris leads the Tigers in both tackles (42) and sacks (four).

Memphis is second in the AAC in scoring defense, allowing 15.8 points per game, and is fifth in scoring offense (31.2 points per game). 

North Texas-Memphis Prediction

I like Memphis giving the points. North Texas has a prolific offense, but the Mean Green can also give up points in bundles. A key stat is penalties. North Texas is the second-worst team in the AAC, averaging 77 penalty yards per game. Memphis is the fourth-best team, averaging 44 per contest. 

Another key stat is that North Texas has thrown 20 touchdown passes, but Memphis has allowed just two scoring passes. North Texas hasn’t faced a defense like this, and while the Mean Green should still be able to score, I don’t think it will be at the same pace as the first six games.

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The post AAC Game of The Week: North Texas at Memphis Prediction & Preview appeared first on HERO Sports.

Memphis, the preseason favorite, lost its first AAC game 56-44 at Navy while USF lost its AAC opener 45-10 at Tulane. Both teams were idle this past week. With the emergence of Army and Navy, a team with two losses could have a difficult time earning a berth in the AAC title game.

Both USF and Memphis have been disappointing, especially on the defensive side of the ball. USF has played arguably the toughest schedule of any AAC team to this point, with the other losses at Alabama (42-16) and at home against Miami (50-15). 

With urgency facing both teams, this could have a playoff feel to it. 

Memphis-USF How To Watch

Memphis will play USF at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

TV: ESPN+ (The game was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday but was moved due to the forecasted impact of Hurricane Milton on the Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida.)

Memphis & USF Records

Memphis (4-1, 0-1 AAC); South Florida (2-3, 0-1)

Memphis-USF Betting Line

Memphis -7.5 (-110)

Over/Under: 60.5

Memphis-USF Coaches

Memphis: Ryan Silverfield (35-19)

South Florida: Alex Golesh (9-9)

Last meeting: Nov. 4, 2023; Memphis won 59-50 at home.

Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan completed 23 of 40 passes for 349 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also rushed for 42 yards and one touchdown on eight carries. 

USF quarterback Byrum Brown was spectacular in defeat. He completed 31 of 39 passes for 357 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Brown also rushed for 100 yards on 18 carries. 

Why The Memphis-USF Game Is Important

As outlined earlier, the loser will have a difficult time earning a spot in the AAC title game. The other expected contenders – Army, Navy, and Tulane – are already a combined 9-0 in AAC play. Plus, North Texas is considered an outside contender. It wouldn’t be impossible for the loser of this game to earn a title game berth, but it would be difficult. 

Memphis-USF Preview

For Memphis

It looked as if beating Florida State would be a signature win for Memphis. The Tigers did win 20-12 at Florida State, but the Seminoles have been among the most disappointing teams in college football with a 1-5 record.

On paper, the stats don’t look too bad. Memphis is averaging 33.2 points per game and allowing 18.4, but the Tigers’ defense was shredded by Navy. The Midshipmen rushed for 361 yards and five touchdowns against Memphis. What really hurt was that Navy also passed for 205 yards and two touchdowns. 

The defensive numbers were helped by a shutout win over North Alabama and a 24-7 victory in the Tigers’ last outing over Middle Tennessee. 

Henigan, who had some preseason Heisman buzz, has been less than spectacular. He has completed 64.1% of his passes for 1,349 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions while rushing for 60 yards and no touchdowns.

South Carolina transfer Mario Anderson Jr. has rushed for 438 yards and eight touchdowns. Roc Taylor has a team-high 23 receptions for 333 yards and one score.

Chandler Martin, among the top linebackers in the AAC, has 35 tackles and three sacks. 

For USF

USF had some moments against both Alabama and Miami. The Bulls trailed Alabama 14-13 entering the fourth quarter before being outscored 28-3 in the final period. The Bulls were down just 22-15 to Miami at halftime before being outscored 28-0 in the second half. There was nothing competitive about the loss to Tulane, where the Green Wave scored the first 31 points of the game. 

What’s worse, Brown left early in the third quarter due to injury against Tulane. Bryce Archie finished the game, completing 4 of 10 passes for 41 yards. No doubt, Memphis will prepare to face both quarterbacks. 

Brown is the leading rusher for USF with 269 yards and three TDs. Graduate student Kelley Joiner, who has appeared in 39 games for USF, is second on the team in rushing with 248 yards. He is averaging 6.5 yards per carry and has scored four touchdowns.

Veteran Sean Atkins has 27 receptions for 309 yards but no touchdowns. USF has just two receiving touchdowns. 

Graduate student linebacker Mac Harris leads the Bulls in tackles (30) and tackles for loss (four). The Bulls average 27.8 points per game but are allowing 32.8, which is 118th nationally.  In their three losses, they are allowing 45.6 points per contest. 

Memphis-USF Prediction

I like Memphis giving the points, regardless of who will be at quarterback for USF. It appears as if the Miami loss affected the Bulls, which led to their sluggish loss to Tulane.

Memphis, it can be argued, has been just as disappointing as USF, but the Tigers’ schedule hasn’t been as difficult. This is still a talented Memphis team, and the next two games against USF and North Texas will be tests to show if the Tigers are indeed the serious contender they were expected to be. 

The post AAC Game of The Week: Memphis at USF Preview appeared first on HERO Sports.

Now looking forward, here are the top AAC prospects who could be chosen in the 2025 NFL Draft, which begins on April 24 and goes on until April 26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

NFL Draft AAC Big Board

The post 2025 NFL Draft: AAC Big Board & Top Prospects appeared first on HERO Sports.

Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes had previously said rebuilding the Pac-12 would be the program’s No. 1 choice. And now it appears that will happen with the addition of teams from the Mountain West.

Here’s more about where Oregon State fits in with college football’s conference realignment.

Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Utah State & San Diego State Join The Pac-12

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State, and San Diego State have announced they are officially going to the Pac-12, beginning during the 2026 season.

Those moves will likely create a ripple effect for the rest of the FBS. The Pac-12 needs at least one more team to be technically considered a conference, so others will likely become members of the new-look league. The Mountain West is losing some of its top teams and will be searching for candidates to boost its numbers back up.

Pac-12 officials reportedly believe the league can reach a media deal worth more than the Mountain West’s currently, which could be a key reason for these moves.

The Pac-12 is no longer an autonomous league, meaning it had more influence in regards to NCAA decisions and received more money from the College Football Playoff. It’s uncertain if the Pac-12 could regain that status. It’s also unclear if the CFP would go back to six automatic qualifying spots for conference championship winners, as that number decreased to five following the Pac-12 dropping to two teams.

Memphis, USF, UTSA & Tulane To Stay In The AAC

The Pac-12 was reportedly hoping to add some of the top programs in the AAC as well, but now that’s not happening.

Memphis, Tulane, South Florida, and UTSA publicly announced a recommitment to the AAC last month. That seriously hampers the Pac-12’s expansion efforts.

All four of those schools are located in good markets, and all four of them were in bowl games in 2023. They were logical targets for the Pac-12 aside from travel costs.

Now the question is what other teams might the Pac-12 be considering.

UNLV, Air Force To Remain In The Mountain West

UNLV, Air Force, and the Mountain West’s remaining full-time members have reportedly recommitted to staying in the Mountain West despite interest from the Pac-12 and AAC.

Air Force was reportedly being considered as an addition for the AAC before Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State announced they were going anywhere.

The move would’ve made sense for the Falcons. They could have joined a league with Army and Navy and could have avoided the uncertainty that the Mountain West is looking at. Air Force also doesn’t play too far from Denver, which provides some benefits as well.

Instead, the Falcons as well as programs like UNLV and San Jose State seem to be a part of the Mountain West’s immediate future.

Pac-12/Mountain West Lawsuit

Several outlets published stories recently about the Pac-12 filing a lawsuit against the Mountain West over its poaching penalties. That number will be more than $50 million depending on how many schools end up going from the Mountain West to the Pac-12.

Those fees are on top of the $17 million per school that the soon-to-be Pac-12 members will have to pay for leaving the Mountain West, though the Pac-12 will cover some or all of that. 

The poaching penalties were part of the scheduling alliance that the Pac-12 and Mountain West made for this season. 

The Pac-12’s argument is it’s an antitrust issue. The conference allegedly is claiming it had no choice but to agree to that deal because most of the conference’s teams had left and the league had only a few months to come up with a schedule for the 2024 season.

Pac-12 & Mountain West Don’t Extend Scheduling Arrangement Past 2024

The Mountain West and Pac-12 didn’t sign off on a deal to continue their scheduling agreement past this season. The deadline to do so was Sept. 1.

Oregon State and Washington State made a scheduling deal with the Mountain West for this year. Mountain West teams scheduled seven games against league opponents with another being against either WSU or OSU in 2024. Those two programs aren’t eligible for the Mountain West Championship.

For one year of this arrangement, the two schools are paying the Mountain West $14 million, according to Yahoo Sports.

Oregon State Staying In The Pac-12

OSU and WSU previously took action which indicated the universities intended on seeing if they can keep the Pac-12 alive. And now the four Mountain West teams going to the Pac-12 reinforces that notion.

The presidents of Washington State and Oregon State make up the conference’s board of directors. That means those leaders alone have the power to decide what to do with the Pac-12 and its resources like TV revenue.

Those resources will help make it possible for the Pac-12 to add several new teams.

Pac-12 2024 Conference Realignment News

The Mountain West announced last week the league is bringing in UTEP, which is currently a member of Conference USA and was believed by some to be a potential target for the Pac-12.

UTEP is joining a conference that’s stronger in terms of on-the-field performance.

And that’s not including the five teams which will be members of the Pac-12 in two years. For example, Air Force reached the AP Top 25 as recently as last season, and UNLV was ranked at 25th last week after two wins over Power Four programs.

There’s also familiarity with the Miners and the other current Mountain West teams, as UTEP played against all of those programs while in the Western Athletic Conference.

UTEP’s decision appears to be financially sound as well. The money made from the Mountain West’s TV deal could be more than four times as much as UTEP is making with Conference USA’s. That’s going off of the current numbers of those deals, and that could of course end up changing with so many teams leaving the Mountain West, which has a TV deal that will reportedly expire after next season.

UTEP’s move could also end up making sense from a travel standpoint as well. While Texas State announced its commitment to the Sun Belt, reports have indicated Tarleton State might also end up going to the MW, so that could be another team in the state of Texas. Currently only one other CUSA team is in the Lone Star State (Sam Houston).

UTEP will become a member of the Mountain West on July 1, 2026. The Miners’ football team will begin Mountain West play during the 2026 season.

Oregon State To The Big 12?

It doesn’t seem likely Oregon State will go to the Big 12.

The Beavers might have several things going for their athletic department, but there hasn’t been much buzz about them joining the Big 12. And if that was a possibility, that likely would’ve happened by now.

OSU would make it 17 schools in the Big 12. Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah are the previous Pac-12 members which are now in the Big 12 this year.

OSU Part of ACC Expansion?

Oregon State doesn’t appear to be heading to the ACC, either. Cal, Stanford, and SMU are now in the ACC, however.

News likely would’ve leaked out from some source that Oregon State was in consideration among those schools.

USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington are the other previous Pac-12 schools which left, as they’re now in the Big Ten. Washington State and Oregon State are the only two Pac-12 schools which haven’t been heavily tied to another Power Four conference.

And the ACC isn’t in a stable place, either. Clemson and Florida State have both sued the ACC in recent months over matters related to the ACC’s grant of rights.

Neither school has given official notice that it intends to leave. However, Florida State has reportedly expressed frustration with the ACC’s media deal for months, saying FSU isn’t making enough to keep up with SEC and Big Ten programs seeking to win national championships.

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OSU-AAC Discussions

The AAC was hoping to add Oregon State as it positions itself as the next “power” conference. But the American reportedly has stopped considering bringing in OSU and Washington State and added Army.

The AAC lost Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati to the Big 12 last year. But the league is hoping to be considered among the top college football conferences after adding UAB, UTSA, Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, and Rice in 2023.

Pac-12/Sun Belt Scheduling Alliance?

The presidents of Sun Belt Conference schools reportedly met to go over potential plans by Oregon State and Washington State that would include a scheduling alliance between the Sun Belt and those two schools, according to Yahoo Sports.

However, those discussions were reportedly short. The Sun Belt’s leaders believed there was too much travel and not enough financial gain possible with an arrangement like that.

CFP’s Move To 5+7 Format

The College Football Playoff changed its format for 2024.

The CFP Board of Managers unanimously decided to alter the setup for the playoff. Now, the five highest-ranked conference title winners will automatically qualify, and the next seven highest-ranked teams will make up the rest of the field.

Previously, the six highest-ranked conference champions would make it. Then the next-highest ranked six teams would consist of the rest of the field.

“This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022,” Mark Keenum, Mississippi State President and Chair of the CFP Board of Managers, said in a press release. “I know this change will also be well received by student-athletes, coaches and fans. We all will be pleased to see this new format come to life on the field this postseason.”

College Football Playoff Rules

This year is the CFP’s first season of 12 teams making the playoffs.

Despite the 5+7 change, no specific conference will have an automatic qualifier, and there will be no maximum for a number of teams from any one conference.

With this new format, the five highest-ranked conference champions will automatically receive a CFP berth and the four highest-ranked conference title winners will have a bye during the first round. The next eight teams will be seeded Nos. 5-12, and the higher-seeded programs will host.

Then the quarterfinals and semifinals will be made up of the New Year’s Six bowls, and the national championship will keep being played at a neutral site.

Can A Pac-12 Team Make The College Football Playoff?

Washington State and Oregon State, the two remaining Pac-12 teams in 2024, still can earn a spot in the CFP. However, that path will be difficult without a chance to automatically qualify with a conference championship.

Most of the Pac-12’s members are playing in other Power Four conferences this season. OSU and WSU agreed to a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West for 2024. Oregon State and Washington State won’t be eligible for the Mountain West’s conference title.

OSU, Pac-12 History

Oregon State has been a member of the Pac-12, though it has gone by different names, since 1964.

When OSU joined, it was known as the Athletic Association of Western Universities. Then the league became the Pacific-8 Conference in 1968 before being renamed the Pacific-10 Conference in 1978 when Arizona and Arizona State joined. It officially became the Pac-12 in 2011 after Colorado and Utah became members.

Pac-12 Media Deal

The Pac-12’s media deal with FOX and ESPN was reportedly worth $250 million per year and was set to expire this academic school year. The conference was seeking a new deal before several teams decided to leave.

Mountain West Conference Media Deal

The Mountain West agreed to a $270 million media rights deal in 2020 with CBS and FOX, according to The Athletic. That would mean teams are scheduled to be paid $4 million per year.

The arrangement would end after the 2025-26 season. 

The post Oregon State Football Conference Realignment: Pac-12 Is Adding At Least Four Mountain West Teams appeared first on HERO Sports.

And now, after those programs decided to move on, the Group of Five leagues have begun to be affected. The teams left in the Pac-12 have limited options ahead of them. But they may have found a path forward.

Here’s a look at what has happened in the college football landscape and how it has impacted the G5.

Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Utah State & San Diego State Join The Pac-12

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State, and San Diego State have announced they are officially going to the Pac-12, beginning during the 2026 season.

Those moves will likely create a ripple effect for the rest of the FBS. The Pac-12 needs at least one more team to be technically considered a conference, so others will likely become members of the new-look league. The Mountain West is losing some of its top teams and will be searching for candidates to boost its numbers back up.

Pac-12 officials reportedly believe the league can reach a media deal worth more than the Mountain West’s currently, which could be a key reason for these moves.

The Pac-12 is no longer an autonomous league, meaning it had more influence in regards to NCAA decisions and received more money from the College Football Playoff. It’s uncertain if the Pac-12 could regain that status. It’s also unclear if the CFP would go back to six automatic qualifying spots for conference championship winners, as that number decreased to five following the Pac-12 dropping to two teams.

Memphis, USF, UTSA & Tulane To Stay In The AAC

The Pac-12 was reportedly hoping to add some of the top programs in the AAC as well, but now that’s not happening.

Memphis, Tulane, South Florida, and UTSA publicly announced a recommitment to the AAC last month. That seriously hampers the Pac-12’s expansion efforts.

All four of those schools are located in good markets, and all four of them were in bowl games in 2023. They were logical targets for the Pac-12 aside from travel costs.

Now the question is what other teams might the Pac-12 be considering.

UNLV, Air Force To Remain In The Mountain West

UNLV, Air Force, and the Mountain West’s remaining full-time members have reportedly recommitted to staying in the Mountain West despite interest from the Pac-12 and AAC.

Air Force was reportedly being considered as an addition for the AAC before Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State announced they were going anywhere.

The move would’ve made sense for the Falcons. They could have joined a league with Army and Navy and could have avoided the uncertainty that the Mountain West is looking at. Air Force also doesn’t play too far from Denver, which provides some benefits as well.

Instead, the Falcons as well as programs like UNLV and San Jose State seem to be a part of the Mountain West’s immediate future.

Pac-12/Mountain West Lawsuit

Several outlets published stories recently about the Pac-12 filing a lawsuit against the Mountain West over its poaching penalties. That number will be more than $50 million depending on how many schools end up going from the Mountain West to the Pac-12.

Those fees are on top of the $17 million per school that the soon-to-be Pac-12 members will have to pay for leaving the Mountain West, though the Pac-12 will cover some or all of that. 

The poaching penalties were part of the scheduling alliance that the Pac-12 and Mountain West made for this season. 

The Pac-12’s argument is it’s an antitrust issue. The conference allegedly is claiming it had no choice but to agree to that deal because most of the conference’s teams had left and the league had only a few months to come up with a schedule for the 2024 season.

Pac-12 & Mountain West Don’t Extend Scheduling Arrangement Past 2024

The Mountain West and Pac-12 didn’t sign off on a deal to continue their scheduling agreement past this season. The deadline to do so was Sept. 1.

Oregon State and Washington State made a scheduling deal with the Mountain West for this year. Mountain West teams scheduled seven games against league opponents with another being against either WSU or OSU in 2024. Those two programs aren’t eligible for the Mountain West Championship.

For one year of this arrangement, the two schools are paying the Mountain West $14 million, according to Yahoo Sports.

Which Teams Left The Pac-12?

USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington decided to go to the Big Ten, and Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah chose to head to the Big 12.

Then news broke that Cal and Stanford would be going to the ACC. That leaves just two teams left in the Pac-12.

Who Is In The Pac-2?

Washington State and Oregon State are the only programs remaining in the Pac-12. Some began calling them the Pac-2.

When Cal, Stanford, WSU, and OSU were the only teams left in the Pac-12, people referred to them as the Pac-4. However, Stanford and Cal are now in the ACC.

While OSU and WSU were facing an unclear future, both teams saw some success last year and were both ranked in the AP Top 25 at one point.

SMU, Stanford, And Cal Head To ACC

SMU, Stanford, and Cal became members of the ACC beginning in 2024.

However, all three schools reportedly won’t receive full ACC revenue shares for nine years.

Clemson & FSU’s ACC Lawsuits

After the Pac-12 imploded, some have begun to wonder if the same would happen to the ACC.

Clemson and Florida State have both sued the ACC in recent months over matters related to the league’s grant of rights.

Florida State has reportedly expressed frustration with the ACC’s media deal for months, saying FSU isn’t making enough to keep up with SEC and Big Ten programs also seeking to win national championships.

For example, the nine FBS leagues recently signed off on a six-year College Football Playoff arrangement through 2031 that would give the Big Ten and SEC nearly twice as much money as the ACC and Big 12.

Florida State has argued the ACC has mismanaged its TV agreement with ESPN, The Athletic reported. FSU is also seeking for a court in Florida to rule whether the ACC’s grant of rights is legitimate.

Clemson is questioning the legitimacy of the ACC’s grant of rights when it comes to a school leaving the conference. 

Sports media experts have argued Clemson and Florida State’s cases against the ACC aren’t very strong, which could prevent the conference from dissolving anytime soon. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t impossible.

Those schools could come up with the financial means to separate from the ACC, or perhaps all parties involved come to an amicable solution which means those two programs can seek a new conference.

But if that did happen, the ACC would be losing arguably its two most valuable members when it comes to college football. And like what happened with the Pac-12, some big-name schools leaving could lead to several others wanting out as well.

A judge reportedly decided to grant a temporary restraining order against North Carolina’s board of trustees. That means the board can’t go over things like finances or conference realignment in a closed session.

For the sake of the Group of Five, if the ACC were to completely dissolve, it’s not impossible some programs are left behind by the power leagues. Perhaps the AAC or the Sun Belt figure out an arrangement with leftover ACC teams.

AAC/Pac-12 Potential Moves

The American Athletic Conference was reportedly interested in adding the remaining Pac-12 schools, but then the AAC stopped considering those moves.

This is where it gets interesting for Group of Five fans. The AAC has expressed disapproval of the G5 label, and additions like that would’ve certainly helped the conference position itself as the next-highest league in many aspects after the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, and ACC.

While the American recently lost UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston to the Big 12, the teams that joined the AAC last year were UTSA, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and Charlotte. The AAC presidents also voted to add Army as a football-only member.

Pac-12 2024 Conference Realignment News

The Mountain West announced last week the league is bringing in UTEP, which is currently a member of Conference USA and was believed by some to be a potential target for the Pac-12.

UTEP is joining a conference that’s stronger in terms of on-the-field performance.

And that’s not including the five teams which will be members of the Pac-12 in two years. For example, Air Force reached the AP Top 25 as recently as last season, and UNLV was ranked at 25th last week after two wins over Power Four programs.

There’s also familiarity with the Miners and the other current Mountain West teams, as UTEP played against all of those programs while in the Western Athletic Conference.

UTEP’s decision appears to be financially sound as well. The money made from the Mountain West’s TV deal could be more than four times as much as UTEP is making with Conference USA’s. That’s going off of the current numbers of those deals, and that could of course end up changing with so many teams leaving the Mountain West, which has a TV deal that will reportedly expire after next season.

UTEP’s move could also end up making sense from a travel standpoint as well. While Texas State announced its commitment to the Sun Belt, reports have indicated Tarleton State might also end up going to the MW, so that could be another team in the state of Texas. Currently only one other CUSA team is in the Lone Star State (Sam Houston).

UTEP will become a member of the Mountain West on July 1, 2026. The Miners’ football team will begin Mountain West play during the 2026 season.

Pac-12/Sun Belt Scheduling Alliance?

The presidents of Sun Belt Conference schools met during last season to go over potential plans by Oregon State and Washington State that would include a scheduling alliance between the Sun Belt and those two schools, according to Yahoo Sports.

However, those discussions were reportedly short. The Sun Belt’s leaders believed there was too much travel and not enough financial gain possible with an arrangement like that.

CFP’s Move To 5+7 Format Impacting G5 Teams

The College Football Playoff changed its format for 2024.

The CFP Board of Managers unanimously decided to alter the setup for the playoff. Now, the five highest-ranked conference title winners will automatically qualify, and the next seven highest-ranked teams will make up the rest of the field.

Previously, the six highest-ranked conference champions would make it. Then the next-highest ranked six teams would consist of the rest of the field.

This means at least one Group of Five team will still make the CFP. The previous rules would’ve guaranteed spots for at least two G5 programs, but it was unlikely that those rules were going to stand after most of the Pac-12’s members departed for other leagues.

G5 representatives on the CFP Board of Managers included Western Kentucky President Tim Caboni (Conference USA), Tulane President Michael Fitts (AAC), Troy President Jack Hawkins (Sun Belt), Buffalo President Satish Tripathi (MAC), and UNLV President Keith Whitfield (Mountain West).

“This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022,” Mark Keenum, Mississippi State President and Chair of the CFP Board of Managers, said in a press release. “I know this change will also be well received by student-athletes, coaches and fans. We all will be pleased to see this new format come to life on the field this postseason.”

College Football Playoff Rules

This year is the CFP’s first season of 12 teams making the playoffs.

Despite the 5+7 change, no specific conference will have an automatic qualifier, and there will be no maximum for a number of teams from any one conference.

With this new format, the five highest-ranked conference champions will automatically receive a CFP berth and the four highest-ranked conference title winners will have a bye during the first round. The next eight teams will be seeded Nos. 5-12, and the higher-seeded programs will host.

Then the quarterfinals and semifinals will be made up of the New Year’s Six bowls, and the national championship will keep being played at a neutral site.

Can A Pac-12 Team Make The College Football Playoff?

Washington State and Oregon State, the two remaining Pac-12 teams in 2024, still can earn a spot in the CFP. However, that path will be difficult without a chance to automatically qualify with a conference championship.

Most of the Pac-12’s members are playing in other Power Four conferences this season. OSU and WSU agreed to a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West for 2024. Oregon State and Washington State won’t be eligible for the Mountain West’s conference title.

Mountain West Conference Media Deal

The Mountain West agreed to a $270 million media rights deal in 2020 with CBS and FOX, according to The Athletic. It would end after the 2025-26 season. Teams are scheduled to be paid $4 million per year.

The post College Football Realignment: Pac-12 Officially Adding Mountain West Teams, ACC Facing Issues appeared first on HERO Sports.

Though it seemed possible Washington State would end up with another conference, that won’t become reality now, as the Pac-12 will be picking up a few important members from the Mountain West in the near future.

Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Utah State & San Diego State Join The Pac-12

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State, and San Diego State have announced they are officially going to the Pac-12, beginning during the 2026 season.

Those moves will likely create a ripple effect for the rest of the FBS. The Pac-12 needs at least one more team to be technically considered a conference, so others will likely become members of the new-look league. The Mountain West is losing some of its top teams and will be searching for candidates to boost its numbers back up.

Pac-12 officials reportedly believe the league can reach a media deal worth more than the Mountain West’s currently, which could be a key reason for these moves.

The Pac-12 is no longer an autonomous league, meaning it had more influence in regards to NCAA decisions and received more money from the College Football Playoff. It’s uncertain if the Pac-12 could regain that status. It’s also unclear if the CFP would go back to six automatic qualifying spots for conference championship winners, as that number decreased to five following the Pac-12 dropping to two teams.

Memphis, USF, UTSA & Tulane To Stay In The AAC

The Pac-12 was reportedly hoping to add some of the top programs in the AAC as well, but now that’s not happening.

Memphis, Tulane, South Florida, and UTSA publicly announced a recommitment to the AAC. That seriously hampers the Pac-12’s expansion efforts.

All four of those schools are located in good markets, and all four of them were in bowl games in 2023. They were logical targets for the Pac-12 aside from travel costs.

Now the question is what other teams might the Pac-12 be considering.

UNLV, Air Force To Remain In The Mountain West

UNLV, Air Force, and the Mountain West’s remaining full-time members have reportedly recommitted to staying in the Mountain West despite interest from the Pac-12 and AAC.

Air Force was reportedly being considered as an addition for the AAC before Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State announced they were going anywhere.

The move would’ve made sense for the Falcons. They could have joined a league with Army and Navy and could have avoided the uncertainty that the Mountain West is looking at. Air Force also doesn’t play too far from Denver, which provides some benefits as well.

Instead, the Falcons as well as programs like UNLV and San Jose State seem to be a part of the Mountain West’s immediate future.

Pac-12/Mountain West Lawsuit

Several outlets published stories recently about the Pac-12 filing a lawsuit against the Mountain West over its poaching penalties. That number will be more than $50 million depending on how many schools end up going from the Mountain West to the Pac-12.

Those fees are on top of the $17 million per school that the soon-to-be Pac-12 members will have to pay for leaving the Mountain West, though the Pac-12 will cover some or all of that. 

The poaching penalties were part of the scheduling alliance that the Pac-12 and Mountain West made for this season. 

The Pac-12’s argument is it’s an antitrust issue. The conference allegedly is claiming it had no choice but to agree to that deal because most of the conference’s teams had left and the league had only a few months to come up with a schedule for the 2024 season.

Pac-12 & Mountain West Don’t Extend Scheduling Arrangement Past 2024

The Mountain West and Pac-12 didn’t sign off on a deal to continue their scheduling agreement past this season. The deadline to do so was Sept. 1.

Oregon State and Washington State made a scheduling deal with the Mountain West for this year. Mountain West teams scheduled seven games against league opponents with another being against either WSU or OSU in 2024. Those two programs aren’t eligible for the Mountain West Championship.

For one year of this arrangement, the two schools are paying the Mountain West $14 million, according to Yahoo Sports.

Wazzu Staying In The Pac-12

Oregon State and WSU previously took action which indicated the universities intended on seeing if they can keep the Pac-12 alive. And now the four Mountain West teams going to the Pac-12 reinforces that notion.

The presidents of Washington State and Oregon State make up the conference’s board of directors. That means those leaders alone have the power to decide what to do with the Pac-12 and its resources like TV revenue.

Those resources will help make it possible for the Pac-12 to add several new teams.

Pac-12 2024 Conference Realignment News

The Mountain West announced last week the league is bringing in UTEP, which is currently a member of Conference USA and was believed by some to be a potential target for the Pac-12.

UTEP is joining a conference that’s stronger in terms of on-the-field performance.

And that’s not including the five teams which will be members of the Pac-12 in two years. For example, Air Force reached the AP Top 25 as recently as last season, and UNLV was ranked at 25th last week after two wins over Power Four programs.

There’s also familiarity with the Miners and the other current Mountain West teams, as UTEP played against all of those programs while in the Western Athletic Conference.

UTEP’s decision appears to be financially sound as well. The money made from the Mountain West’s TV deal could be more than four times as much as UTEP is making with Conference USA’s. That’s going off of the current numbers of those deals, and that could of course end up changing with so many teams leaving the Mountain West, which has a TV deal that will reportedly expire after next season.

UTEP’s move could also end up making sense from a travel standpoint as well. While Texas State announced its commitment to the Sun Belt, reports have indicated Tarleton State might also end up going to the MW, so that could be another team in the state of Texas. Currently only one other CUSA team is in the Lone Star State (Sam Houston).

UTEP will become a member of the Mountain West on July 1, 2026. The Miners’ football team will begin Mountain West play during the 2026 season.

Could A WSU-Big Ten Move Happen?

The Big Ten does not seem to be a likely landing spot for Washington State.

Though there have been some reports about WSU looking at going to a Power Five league, the Big Ten has not been one of them. The Big Ten seems content at the moment or would look elsewhere for expansion.

USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington are the previous Pac-12 schools which are in the Big Ten. Washington State would likely want to join UW in whatever league it is in, but the Big Ten doesn’t seem like it will extend an invite any time soon.

Would WSU To The Big 12 Work?

Some have speculated Washington State could go with other Pac-12 schools to the Big 12, but that doesn’t currently seem probable.

Multiple national outlets have reported the Big 12 doesn’t seem likely to be adding the Pac-2 schools, which would include Oregon State and WSU. And if that was a possibility, that likely would’ve happened by now.

Four former Pac-12 schools — Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah — are in the Big 12 this year.

Also don’t expect for WSU to go to the ACC any time soon, either, as that league also isn’t in a stable place. Clemson and Florida State have both sued the ACC in recent months over matters related to the ACC’s grant of rights.

Neither school has given official notice that it intends to leave. However, Florida State has reportedly expressed frustration with the ACC’s media deal for months, saying FSU isn’t making enough to keep up with SEC and Big Ten programs seeking to win national championships.

Apple Cup’s Future

Washington State and Washington announced last year their Apple Cup rivalry series would continue for at least another five years, through 2028.

Last season marked the 115th time the two schools played. The Huskies defeated the Cougars 24-21 in 2023.

For more Group of Five coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

CFP’s Move To 5+7 Format

The College Football Playoff changed its format for 2024.

The CFP Board of Managers unanimously decided to alter the setup for the playoff. Now, the five highest-ranked conference title winners will automatically qualify, and the next seven highest-ranked teams will make up the rest of the field.

Previously, the six highest-ranked conference champions would make it. Then the next-highest ranked six teams would consist of the rest of the field.

“This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022,” Mark Keenum, Mississippi State President and Chair of the CFP Board of Managers, said in a press release. “I know this change will also be well received by student-athletes, coaches and fans. We all will be pleased to see this new format come to life on the field this postseason.”

College Football Playoff Rules

This year is the CFP’s first season of 12 teams making the playoffs.

Despite the 5+7 change, no specific conference will have an automatic qualifier, and there will be no maximum for a number of teams from any one conference.

With this new format, the five highest-ranked conference champions will automatically receive a CFP berth and the four highest-ranked conference title winners will have a bye during the first round. The next eight teams will be seeded Nos. 5-12, and the higher-seeded programs will host.

Then the quarterfinals and semifinals will be made up of the New Year’s Six bowls, and the national championship will keep being played at a neutral site.

Can A Pac-12 Team Make The College Football Playoff?

Washington State and Oregon State, the two remaining Pac-12 teams in 2024, still can earn a spot in the CFP. However, that path will be difficult without a chance to automatically qualify with a conference championship.

Most of the Pac-12’s members are playing in other Power Four conferences this season. OSU and WSU agreed to a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West for 2024. Oregon State and Washington State won’t be eligible for the Mountain West’s conference title.

Pac-12/Sun Belt Scheduling Alliance?

The presidents of Sun Belt Conference schools met last season to go over potential plans by Oregon State and Washington State that would include a scheduling alliance between the Sun Belt and those two schools, according to Yahoo Sports.

However, those discussions were reportedly short. The Sun Belt’s leaders believed there was too much travel and not enough financial gain possible with an arrangement like that.

Washington State-AAC Talks

As the AAC tries to shed the Group of Five moniker, adding WSU seemed like it would’ve helped in that effort. But the AAC reportedly has stopped considering bringing in Oregon State and WSU and instead added Army.

The AAC has been regarded by many as the strongest G5 league. Though it lost UCF, Houston, and Cincinnati last year, it picked up North Texas, UTSA, UAB, Charlotte, Rice, and FAU.

Washington State, Pac-12 History

Washington State has been a member of the Pac-12 since 1962, though it has been called a variety of names over the years.

When WSU joined, it was known as the Athletic Association of Western Universities. Then the league became the Pacific-8 Conference in 1968 before being renamed the Pacific-10 Conference in 1978 when Arizona and Arizona State were added. It officially became the Pac-12 in 2011 after Colorado and Utah joined the conference.

Pac-12 Media Deal

The Pac-12’s media deal with FOX and ESPN was reportedly worth $250 million per year and was going to expire this academic school year. The conference was seeking a new deal before several teams decided to leave.

Mountain West Conference Media Deal

The Mountain West agreed to a $270 million media rights deal in 2020 with CBS and FOX, according to The Athletic. That would mean teams are scheduled to be paid $4 million per year.

The arrangement would end after the 2025-26 season. 

The post Washington State Football Conference Realignment: Five Mountain West Teams To Join The Pac-12 appeared first on HERO Sports.

Army suffered two losing seasons at the beginning of Monken’s tenure, which started in 2014. But since then, the Black Knights have made five bowl games in eight years. And during that stretch, Army has won at least a share of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy five times, including 2023.

In Army’s first season as a member of the AAC in 2024, here’s more information about Monken.

What’s Army Head Coach Jeff Monken’s Salary?

Jeff Monken agreed to a contract extension in 2023 which would pay him $2 million per year on average. That deal will expire after the 2027 season.

Jeff Monken’s Coaching History

What’s Army Head Coach Jeff Monken’s Record?

Jeff Monken is 75-55 in the FBS as a head coach after Week 6 of the 2024 season. That’s all while he’s been at Army. He also went 38-16 as the head coach of Georgia Southern when the program was competing in the FCS.

How Old Is Army Head Coach Jeff Monken?

Jeff Monken is 57 years old.

Army Head Coach Jeff Monken’s Background

Monken has been incredibly successful at Army.

The Black Knights were ranked in the AP Top 25 in 2018, a season in which Army went 11-2 and won the Armed Forces Bowl, and in 2020, when the team went 9-3 with a loss in the Liberty Bowl.

Army is 4-1 in bowl games under Monken. Over the last decade, the program has consistently produced standout players, broken program records, and have been among the top teams in the country in several areas, like when the Black Knights led the FBS with 362.3 rushing yards per game.

Monken went to Army after four years as Georgia Southern’s head coach. Georgia Southern reached the FCS playoffs in all three seasons during Monken’s tenure when the Eagles were eligible to do so.

Before that, Monken coached slotbacks and was the special teams coordinator at Georgia Tech from 2008-09. He also coached slotbacks and special teams at Navy, slotbacks at Georgia Southern, wide receivers and tight ends at Buffalo, and offensive linemen at Concordia in Illinois. He was also a graduate assistant at Hawaii and Arizona State.

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In Brian Newberry’s first year at the helm, the Midshipmen went 5-7 overall with a 4-4 mark in AAC play. They hope they improve and achieve a winning record in 2024.

Here’s more info about Newberry, who’s in his second season as the head coach of Navy.

What’s Navy Head Coach Brian Newberry’s Salary?

Brian Newberry made $1.6 million in total pay in 2023, according to USA Today. Further details of his contract have not been widely reported.

Brian Newberry’s Coaching History

What’s Navy Head Coach Brian Newberry’s Record?

Brian Newberry is 10-7 in the FBS as a head coach after Week 6 of the 2024 season. Last year at Navy was his first season as a collegiate head coach.

How Old Is Navy Head Coach Brian Newberry?

Brian Newberry is 50 years old.

Navy Head Coach Brian Newberry’s Background

Before becoming Navy’s head coach, Newberry helped the Midshipmen’s defense be one of the top units in the Group of Five.

He was Navy’s defensive coordinator from 2019-22. During that time, the Midshipmen were often in the top 30 in the FBS in multiple statistical categories, like when they allowed the third-fewest rushing yards per game in the country (88.9) in 2022.

Before that, he was a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at several other places, which makes sense considering he played defensive back at Baylor in the 1990s.

He was a DC and DBs coach at Kennesaw State (2015-18) and Washington & Lee (2004-06 and 2001-02). He was also a defensive coordinator at Northern Michigan (2012) and a DC and linebackers coach at Sewanee (2011). He worked with defensive backs at Elon (2007-10) and Lehigh (2003) as well. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Southern Arkansas in 1999.

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The big question is whether Army can challenge for an American Athletic Conference title.

Last week, I posed the possibility of Army and Navy meeting in the AAC title game and then playing each other the following week in their traditional Army-Navy matchup. 

Keep in mind that the Army-Navy game doesn’t count as a conference contest in the AAC because it is played after the league championship. 

Army and Navy are both 4-0 for the first time since 1945. 

Both Missouri and Army have won eight consecutive games, the longest current streak among FBS teams. 

Reasons To Believe In Army

• The Black Knights haven’t wasted any time early on in games. Army is the only team in the FBS that has scored a touchdown on every first offensive drive of every game this season. 
• To show that isn’t a fluke, Army has scored touchdowns on its first two possessions in each game. 
• The Black Knights’ point differential of plus-103 is its most through four games since 1985. 

• It’s not surprising that Army leads the nation in rushing offense. The Black Knights are averaging 371.2 yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry. How dominant has that been? The No. 2 team in the nation is UCF with an average of 326 rushing yards per game.
• Quarterback Bryson Daily has been impressive as a rusher and efficient as a passer. He has completed just 50% of his passes but is averaging 20 yards per completion and has thrown three touchdown passes and no interceptions. It’s running the ball where he has truly excelled with 492 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. 

• Not surprisingly, Daily is not the only major running threat for Army. Noah Short has 344 rushing yards for an eye-popping 13.8 average and two touchdowns. Kanye Udoh has gained 297 yards and four touchdowns.

• With Army getting off to quick leads, opponents haven’t been able to establish a running game. Army allows just 65 rushing yards per game and just 2.9 yards per carry.
• Army allows just 195 passing yards per game, and the Black Knights have more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes allowed (five). 
• There is plenty of depth on defense. Nine players have recorded nine of more tackles, led by junior linebacker Andon Thomas, who has a team-high 22 tackles. 

While there is a lot of parity in the AAC, Army doesn’t have to face Memphis or Tulane. And of course, the Navy game doesn’t count as a conference contest. That doesn’t mean there won’t be potential challenges, though. 

Reason For Skepticism

The Black Knights haven’t exactly played the most difficult of schedules to date. They opened with a 42-7 win over FCS Lehigh. Their three AAC wins have come against three Owl teams – Florida Atlantic, Rice, and Temple. Those three have a combined record of 4-11. 

To Army’s credit, it has beaten who is on the schedule, but the more challenging part of the slate comes in the second half. Among the key games are a non-league matchup against Notre Dame and interesting AAC contests against East Carolina and North Texas. 

One other thing that must be monitored is Army’s pass rush. The Black Knights didn’t have a sack in their first three games before registering seven against Temple. 

The big question: Can the Black Knights come back from a deficit?

It hasn’t happened yet this season. Army has not trailed at any point this year, though the Black Knights were tied 7-7 in the opener against Lehigh before scoring the final 35 points.

There appears to be great parity in the AAC. Army would appear to have as good of a chance as any team to earn one of the berths in the AAC title game. There are plenty of hurdles to clear, but Army has shown enough during the first third of its regular season schedule to think that the Black Knights could be in this race for the long haul.

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