Football next year ---

[WVAPPeer]

I decided to start a new thread instead of sticking my questions in a current one - Just for clarification purposes - Does Coastal play a full SB schedule? - When do NMSU and Idaho leave? - Do we know who we play or not play next season? - When will there be divisions or will there be divisions? - When will a Championship game be initiated and has that or any of the about been absolutely finalized? --- Thank you ---

[Saint3333]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2017.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

[Boone Goon]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2018.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

If all of this is correct, does that mean we need to find additional OOC opponents for 2018+? Or will we go to a rotational schedule for the other division's 6 teams?

[Rick83]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2018.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

So, I assume the championship game will be the 13th game played (assuming 6 regular season home and 6 away games), and then a bowl game in addition? So, a possibility for 14 games? Will the championship game be played at a neutral site, if so where? NO? Or will it move around? Also, being a division champion is something too, right? Forgive my ignorance...still learning this FBS stuff.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2018.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

If all of this is correct, does that mean we need to find additional OOC opponents for 2018+? Or will we go to a rotational schedule for the other division's 6 teams?

Has there been an update since the article attached to the link? The reason I ask is because the article states the conference is unsure whether it will split into divisions or take the top two finishers.

Details on where the Sun Belt championship game will take place will be released at a later date. The conference is also undecided as to how it will choose its championship game participants: either by splitting into two divisions and sending division champions to the title game, or by taking the top two teams in the standings after a round-robin schedule.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2018.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

So, I assume the championship game will be the 13th game played (assuming 6 regular season home and 6 away games), and then a bowl game in addition? So, a possibility for 14 games? Will the championship game be played at a neutral site, if so where? NO? Or will it move around? Also, being a division champion is something too, right? Forgive my ignorance...still learning this FBS stuff.

Not clear on the championship game site. Be silly not to follow what all other G5 schools do, which is allow the best team to host.

[WVAPPeer]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2018.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

thanks - so we will play Troy in '17 but not CCU? but possibly drop Troy for CCU in '18

[Saint3333]

Sorry should have said we drop Troy for CCU in 2017.

For 2018 we'll play GS, GA St., Troy, CCU in our division and 4 of the 5 from the west (if they implement permanent partners we'll get Ark St, the two administration seems to favor each other). It seems the decision makers prefer the championship game to be played at the higher rated team (how that is determined should be interesting).

[EastHallApp]

IIRC, the issue with not having divisions is that then you have to play a full round-robin in order to have a championship game. That would mean nine conference games, which is something most schools don't want, as it would make OOC scheduling (and the accompanying revenue) more difficult, especially in years where you'd play five SBC road games. So I think that's why conventional wisdom is that we will see divisions (and an 8-game conference schedule) in 2018.

[WVAPPeer]

So as a final question - next year will be basically the same as this year except with the additional of CCU? ---

[EastHallApp]

Sorry should have said we drop Troy for CCU in 2017.

For 2018 we'll play GS, GA St., Troy, CCU in our division and 4 of the 5 from the west (if they implement permanent partners we'll get Ark St, the two administration seems to favor each other). It seems the decision makers prefer the championship game to be played at the higher rated team (how that is determined should be interesting).

I assume the first determination would simply be conference record. If there is a tie, then you go to H2H, if applicable. If that doesn't settle it, then you probably start going to more arcane measures - maybe whose conference opponents had a higher win %, etc.

[JTApps1]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2017.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

If the rumors are true and we don't play Ark. State or Troy next year we should be the favorite to win the conference. With GS looking to be in turmoil I can't think of another team that would improve enough by next year to beat us honestly. I wish we would drop either NMSU or Idaho instead of Troy though as it is becoming a badly needed rivalry game.

[moonshine]

Can we get a waiver from the NCAA this year to play stAte in a bowl game?

[JMappfan5]

Since we are talking about next year, any word on whether Upshaw and Gibbs will be back???

[CornCobPipes]

Since we are talking about next year, any word on whether Upshaw and Gibbs will be back???

I don't have any source to back it up....but I have heard from some different folks that Gibbs is coming back.

Haven't heard anything about Upshaw at all.

[AppOrange]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2017.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

If the rumors are true and we don't play Ark. State or Troy next year we should be the favorite to win the conference. With GS looking to be in turmoil I can't think of another team that would improve enough by next year to beat us honestly. I wish we would drop either NMSU or Idaho instead of Troy though as it is becoming a badly needed rivalry game.

I would say favored to SHARE a conference title . . . Troy or AState will also prob run the table

[EastHallApp]

Since we are talking about next year, any word on whether Upshaw and Gibbs will be back???

I don't have any source to back it up....but I have heard from some different folks that Gibbs is coming back.

Haven't heard anything about Upshaw at all.

Gibbs has sounded very optimistic on Twitter, though nothing definitive yet. Haven't heard anything on Upshaw either.

[asu66]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2017.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

If the rumors are true and we don't play Ark. State or Troy next year we should be the favorite to win the conference. With GS looking to be in turmoil I can't think of another team that would improve enough by next year to beat us honestly. I wish we would drop either NMSU or Idaho instead of Troy though as it is becoming a badly needed rivalry game.

I would say favored to SHARE a conference title . . . Troy or AState will also prob run the table

Hope your optimism is spot on in real time. I worry about our losses on the OL and at LB on defense.

[bigdaddyg]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2017.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

If the rumors are true and we don't play Ark. State or Troy next year we should be the favorite to win the conference. With GS looking to be in turmoil I can't think of another team that would improve enough by next year to beat us honestly. I wish we would drop either NMSU or Idaho instead of Troy though as it is becoming a badly needed rivalry game.

I would say favored to SHARE a conference title . . . Troy or AState will also prob run the table

Hope your optimism is spot on in real time. I worry about our losses on the OL and at LB on defense.

Have you seen some of the guys standing on the sidelines in shorts? Big

[JTApps1]

CCU - full SBC schedule - not eligible for bowl game.

Idaho and NMSU full SBC schedule in 2017, Idaho to Big Sky in 2018, NMSU to indy.

We don't play USA and Ark St. again and rumor is we drop Troy for CCU in 2017.

Divisions in 2018. Likely App, GA St., GS, CCU, Troy

Championship game in 2018. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016 ... add_f.html

If the rumors are true and we don't play Ark. State or Troy next year we should be the favorite to win the conference. With GS looking to be in turmoil I can't think of another team that would improve enough by next year to beat us honestly. I wish we would drop either NMSU or Idaho instead of Troy though as it is becoming a badly needed rivalry game.

I would say favored to SHARE a conference title . . . Troy or AState will also prob run the table

Hope your optimism is spot on in real time. I worry about our losses on the OL and at LB on defense.

I think we have very capable backups at both positions, and luckily we have depth with experience at most positions now. Flory, Townes, A. Davis, and E. Davis should all be fighting for the two LB openings. At OL we have Tobias ready to take over at either C or G. The biggest thing there will be leadership, but that is the case every year.

The only question marks for me are the one OL spot and Punter.