Originally Posted by
champion110
There are a combination of factors that go into what University is picked for what conference.
Strong athletics program
Facility improvements and plans
Academics
TV market
etc....
If it was just metro-area, Mississippi State would not be in the SEC and several others would not be in P5 conferences. There is a combination of factors.
Lalaf can give a decent (not great) metro area, but that is about it. Winning the belt and going to the N.O. Bowl every year doesn't really qualify them. Plus, they have the same issue Texas State has with metro area. In a decent sized market, but the market is owned by a P5 school down the road. Academics are poor. As for facilities, it sounds like they have a grand plan, but there is nothing concrete that they can pull any of it off and or if it will be scaled back to trailers.