Conference changes

jsu02 already answered it pretty succinctly, but if we hadn't been privy to the intel, it'd still be HIGHLY unlikely we'd make an early move.

JMU is moving early because they've been cast out by their current FCS conference. They're having to build a schedule from scratch, while at the same time, the Sun Belt is taking active steps to fit in as many of its new members as it can right away. It's the perfect storm for the Dukes. They need a schedule. The Belt needs teams to flesh out an entirely new schedule.

JSU, on the other hand, has not only been supported in its move by the ASUN, but the conference has gone so far as to say the Gamecocks will still be ELIGIBLE TO WIN THE CONFERENCE in 2022. (That's a huge deal, and by no means was it something the ASUN had to do.)

This means the Gamecocks can finish up their 2022 schedule as a run-of-the-mill FCS school, eligible for a championship, (NO PLAYOFFS, since that's an NCAA rule and we'll be above the scholarship limit.) and we won't have to struggle to find FBS teams willing to play us at home.

Sam is believed to be in a similar situation, though the WAC has not yet explicitly stated if the Bearkats will be eligible for the conference title. Regardless, the WAC, like the ASUN, has been supportive of the Bearkats' move, and still plan to include SHSU in all their originally scheduled games in 2022.

The big thing for both JSU and SHSU, beyond support from their FCS conferences, is that CUSA, though it may potentially be down a conference game or two if the Belt teams leave early, still has plenty of teams in the conference next fall to make a full conference schedule. Unless and until the AAC teams bolt early (narrator: that's not going to happen) there's just no reason for CUSA to re-do its whole schedule just to squeeze in new teams. So they'll hold the line, and JSU and SHSU will hold the line, and we'll all work towards each other starting in 2023.

It's not a bad thing. We can recruit guys this year with the promise that a conference championship ring is on the table for this fall, while still going after G5-quality players who'll be the ones who'll lead us in our first couple of seasons of bowl eligibility. JMU can't make that kind of promise. So yeah, they're getting a slight head start in FBS, but we may get some better players out of the deal. (Maybe.)

Worst case, we fall a year behind a team who's already light years ahead of us in program spending. Big flippin' deal. I'd worry about it more if we were historical rivals or if JMU were joining CUSA with us. As it is, they can go on to become the next Cincinnati for all I care. It's not really going to affect JSU at all.

Let's focus on us. Let's focus on making sure we not only "catch" the other G5 teams in the state, but surpass them as quickly as possible. It's the natural state of things. It needs to happen.