Group of Five conferences

Group of Five conferences are a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college football conferences that do not receive automatic College Football Playoff (CFP) berths, unlike the Power Five conferences. The Group of Five conferences include the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Conference USA (C-USA), Mid-American Conference (MAC), Mountain West Conference (MW), and Sun Belt Conference (SBC), which are home to teams such as the Cincinnati Bearcats, Houston Cougars, and Boise State Broncos. These conferences have a significant impact on the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), with teams like the UCF Knights and Memphis Tigers competing in high-profile bowl games such as the Peach Bowl and Cotton Bowl Classic. The Group of Five conferences also have a strong presence in other sports, including basketball, with teams like the Connecticut Huskies and San Diego State Aztecs competing in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.

Introduction

The Group of Five conferences were established to provide a framework for college athletics programs that are not part of the Power Five conferences, which include the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12 Conference, Big Ten Conference, Pac-12 Conference, and Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Group of Five conferences have a long history, with some conferences dating back to the early 20th century, such as the Mid-American Conference (MAC), which was founded in 1946, and the Mountain West Conference (MW), which was founded in 1999. The conferences have undergone significant changes over the years, with teams like the Temple Owls and Tulane Green Wave joining and leaving the conferences. The Group of Five conferences have also produced notable teams and players, such as the Fresno State Bulldogs and Marshall Thundering Herd, which have competed in bowl games like the Hawaii Bowl and New Orleans Bowl. The conferences have also had a significant impact on the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), with teams like the Appalachian State Mountaineers and Georgia Southern Eagles transitioning to the FBS.

History

The history of the Group of Five conferences dates back to the early 20th century, with the Mid-American Conference (MAC) being founded in 1946, and the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) being founded in 1976. The American Athletic Conference (AAC) was founded in 2013, after the Big East Conference was renamed and rebranded. The Conference USA (C-USA) was founded in 1995, and the Mountain West Conference (MW) was founded in 1999. The conferences have undergone significant changes over the years, with teams like the Louisville Cardinals and Rutgers Scarlet Knights joining and leaving the conferences. The Group of Five conferences have also been impacted by conference realignment, with teams like the West Virginia Mountaineers and Missouri Tigers leaving the conferences to join the Big 12 Conference and Southeastern Conference (SEC), respectively. The conferences have also produced notable coaches, such as Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, who have gone on to coach in the Power Five conferences.

Member Conferences

The Group of Five conferences consist of five member conferences: the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Conference USA (C-USA), Mid-American Conference (MAC), Mountain West Conference (MW), and Sun Belt Conference (SBC). The conferences are home to teams such as the Cincinnati Bearcats, Houston Cougars, and Boise State Broncos. The conferences also have a strong presence in other sports, including basketball, with teams like the Connecticut Huskies and San Diego State Aztecs competing in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The conferences have also produced notable teams and players, such as the Fresno State Bulldogs and Marshall Thundering Herd, which have competed in bowl games like the Hawaii Bowl and New Orleans Bowl. The conferences have also had a significant impact on the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), with teams like the Appalachian State Mountaineers and Georgia Southern Eagles transitioning to the FBS.

Media Rights

The Group of Five conferences have significant media rights deals, with the American Athletic Conference (AAC) having a deal with ESPN and the Conference USA (C-USA) having a deal with CBS Sports Network. The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has a deal with ESPN and the Mountain West Conference (MW) has a deal with CBS Sports Network and FOX Sports. The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) has a deal with ESPN and the conferences also have deals with other networks, such as NBC Sports and FOX Sports. The media rights deals provide significant revenue for the conferences, with the American Athletic Conference (AAC) receiving over $100 million per year from its deal with ESPN. The conferences also have significant exposure, with games being broadcast on networks such as ABC, CBS, and FOX, and teams competing in high-profile bowl games such as the Peach Bowl and Cotton Bowl Classic.

NCAA Tournament Performance

The Group of Five conferences have had significant success in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, with teams like the Connecticut Huskies and San Diego State Aztecs competing in the Final Four. The conferences have also had success in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), with teams like the Boise State Broncos and TCU Horned Frogs competing in bowl games like the Fiesta Bowl and Rose Bowl. The conferences have also produced notable players, such as LaDainian Tomlinson and Kellen Moore, who have gone on to play in the National Football League (NFL). The conferences have also had significant success in other sports, such as baseball, with teams like the Rice Owls and Tulane Green Wave competing in the College World Series.

Notable Teams and Players

The Group of Five conferences have produced notable teams and players, such as the Fresno State Bulldogs and Marshall Thundering Herd, which have competed in bowl games like the Hawaii Bowl and New Orleans Bowl. The conferences have also produced notable coaches, such as Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, who have gone on to coach in the Power Five conferences. The conferences have also produced notable players, such as LaDainian Tomlinson and Kellen Moore, who have gone on to play in the National Football League (NFL). The conferences have also had significant success in other sports, such as basketball, with teams like the Connecticut Huskies and San Diego State Aztecs competing in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The conferences have also produced notable players, such as Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard, who have gone on to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Category:National Collegiate Athletic Association