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Does the American Athletic Conference make the Power Five a Power Six?

By Zach Bigalke

Jan 1, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Blake Bortles (5) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Baylor Bears at University of Phoenix Stadium during the Fiesta Bowl. The Knights won 52-42. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Blake Bortles (5) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Baylor Bears at University of Phoenix Stadium during the Fiesta Bowl. The Knights won 52-42. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Diego State Aztecs running back Donnel Pumphrey (19) is defended by Houston Cougars safety Garrett Davis (1) during the second quarter at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Diego State Aztecs running back Donnel Pumphrey (19) is defended by Houston Cougars safety Garrett Davis (1) during the second quarter at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The American is a conference that remains in flux

The American, we must remember, only enters its fifth official season of existence in 2017. At this point, the league seems to have solidified its membership. Rutgers and Louisville left at the end of year one, and nobody has departed since. But realignment is always only a single shift away in college football, and the American certainly has schools in some of the most attractive media markets.

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The Big 12 already has a lock on Texas recruiting. But the SEC and ACC could both eventually hold interest in Houston as another major Texas market. And the Big 12 still is short two teams of its official moniker. The Cougars offer the promise of a dormant powerhouse on a metro campus that could sustain a solid alumni backing.

This is exactly why the American lost Rutgers and Louisville. Their positioning as solid media markets with strong enough fan support made them attractive to larger conferences. Cincinnati, South Florida, and UCF offer their own advantages to leagues looking to expand. It is more likely to be poached by the Power Five compared to the MAC or Mountain West.

The American cannot challenge the Power Five than a conference when it’ll need further reinforcement by stealing schools from C-USA and the Sun Belt.

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