Who right now is the best "B" League? If , or when :/, the big name ACC Guys or at least 2-3 of them move "up" what is left of ACC? Is it what is left of the ACC and a few strategic additives be next best? I even think WVU would love an "Old" Big East but it would not be smart of them to move out the Big 12 imho. More stable and exiting enough of a league to still be relevent in the national spotlight, ala TCU. IDK if SEC, Big 12 would not take Pitt there best bet would have to be a make your own schedule independent for max interest. I don't know how hard an ala cart schedule would be but you could make something happen. If not that, and I thought it would have worked in the dark error of Oval Jaynes, move to the MAC. Just the talent level then, but if a dystopic future it would be regionality that works better than people would want to admit. It would "justify" the acceptance of a glorified Columbis Crew 25-30000 compact stadium into the tight spaces instead of believing only a 50000 seat one is needed to be acceptable for "A" league football. Fairly easy roadtrips for the 20000 rain or shine fans. Looking at what is left to combine if others get pillaged this is somewhat a realistic scenario imho. Lol i know some of you will ask if I need drug intervention but if a "Memphis" or similar best of the rest don't make a newer similar perceived older Big East, ironically not too different than ACC with truly 1-2 big dogs that carry it, type conference, not many options. In the Past Big East realistically was Miami/VT with WVU for the Slaton/Smith years. Your looking at Sun belt and USA as possible "regional" fits. Better weather but further travel than MAC in general. A pieced together now Big East would be getting some independents, Academies and the rest of ACC others dont want to maybe have a higher perception for tournament time.
Also asked this I know it comes down to "$" in some way but I don't see why it would not end up saving more money for these "big" leagues than forcing them to "stay". Why can't there be an arrangement particularly with Olympic sports similar to what the I.E. Duquesne and formerly Robert Morris with NEC football conference is. No disrespect but lets be honest it is less scholarship football essentially higher level PSAC football whom are not even the best in d2. But the "bell cows" sport is basketball which is in a mid major most year multiple invite basketball league. They were grandfathered in to have fcs football but without the "YSU" level commitment. There are a "lower" scholarship d1 level conference that is "independent" of NEC, A10 etc. Just a group of regional schools that agree to a lesser scholarship levels acceptable enough to be "D1", it gives you a chance still, but you may have less lottery balls in the machine but you can get into the dance. With all of the bigger conference issues and looming cuts why not be able to regionalize these sports. Let the kids get early season treats to "Florida" etc but make softball/baseball a bus league once the season begins with like minded financial budgeting for these one off sports. This can help keep Title 9 if anything keep I.E. softball fully scholarship but baseball less scholarship and cost to keep things equal. You should be able to save money and overcost to be able to field something. Let those sports "go" and let the schools spread their wings. Again even though they may want to give more scholarships but a D1 league that may agree to 2 scholarships under the 11.7 9 min, which is technically D2 max could make regional conference. Say to the ACC we want ot offer 9.5 scholarships and just play the tri state area etc. Your not running with the big dogs in most cases anyways like the sunny florida or SoCal, Texas teams. Could or would D1 conference allow this? I assume for prestige the ACC most likey included I guess but B10, SEC have enough money to send their teams to Japan for a treat to play ball but can they give the option for realistically are what is becoming "B" conferences or the few that don't have all the extra capital a way to keep sports but justify spending extra capital on the money sports while not really cutting the olympic sports that help enrich student lives. Keep those leagues bus leagues. No expectation of top scholarship amounts and far road trips. Besides early season treats to nice weather in season no weekday flights/long bus rides to Florida etc. Go to class, Drive to Ohio be back early evening to eat on campus and back to your dorm to sleep. Like I said in some of these sports you are not going ot the dance anyways except the same big name billion dollar "franchises" under the guise of college athletics. Is that not what all of these really started as. Atlantic Coast, SouthEast , Pacific, SouthWest etc. Football/Basketball are totally different animals. Bring those other sports back if anything to the regional roots. Ultimately, especially if the tournament expands, that is what will die first or suffer the most. handcuffing "lesser" sports to make these same travels without the reality of generating the money themselves. if about money that has to be cheaper and smarter?