Sun Belt may see a slight drop this upcoming season, unless the conference climbs another rung on the ladder, due to adding another football program (from 11 to 12). Then for 2018, the Sun Belt should see a slight uptick after dropping IU and NMSU and going from 12 to 10. CUSA will see their shares drop even more with UAB coming back into the fold and dividing the pie 14 ways compared to 13 from last season. Making the Access Bowl helps bring in a nice $6mil pay day. If someone (looking at you App) from the Sun Belt could make the AB, the programs in our conference could clear $2mil. Does anyone know how the Sun Belt distributes the payouts, especially as it pertains to the Access Bowl?

"The NCAA has released the financial data reported by the College Football Playoff for the 2016-17 bowl season.

The Sun Belt finished fourth in revenue. The MAC finished first because Western Michigan made the Cotton Bowl. Without that $6 million payout the Sun Belt would have been third and the MAC fourth. Conference USA finished last.

Average is based on the total payout divided by the number of football members, actual revenue sharing will vary by conference.

Independents other than Notre Dame each received $310,469

*Mid-American Conference $21,522,280 per school average $1,793,523

*American Athletic Conference $20,301,176 per school average $1,691,765

*Mountain West Conference $18,708,211 per school average $1,559,018

*Sun Belt Conference $17,115,246 per school average $1,555,931

*Conference USA $13,929,315 per school average $1,071,486"

http://www.scout.com/college/arkansas-s ... ff-revenue

Good reason to stay at 10 teams.

bh2oson wrote:Good reason to stay at 10 teams.

It depends on additional revenue (impact on margin) created by adding new members. It could even out but if you are in the green when considering money lost versus money gained in other areas, there isn't an issue for adding more teams. For C-USA, I don't see how they can justify being at 14 schools because there isn't a single marquee member of the bunch.

What I find intriguing is that this payout is not really being discussed outside of the Sun Belt board. I have checked several boards of our regional competitors and not a mention. If the Sun Belt can continue on this upward trend, the conference could see itself jockeying annually for the #1 or #2 place with regards to average per team payout even if the conference as a whole doesn't excel.

CUSA fans don't want to admit their payouts in all forms are shrinking more ever year. I'm sure their AD's are well aware!

Man we're only $136k from being P6.