Seawolves Fans

i agree but i think it's more than that- the survivors here are not just those with $$$. 

it's the established brands.  those that can bring in a tv contract, sell merchandise, draw in recruits, etc.  ND can stink and still be relevant because it sells. 

but those brands/schools were made in the last 5-6 decades.  sure, some late comers over the past 20 years- ill argue that's places like cincy, louisville, baylor, TCU (old big east and AAC schools).  id even maybe throw in boise.  (uconn tried and its costing them dearly)

but that window is now effectively shut.  sure you can try with bball- that may work for gonzaga- but if you have a bad february, that's a lot of empty seats for the next 8-9 months.  the low price tag means everyone's trying. 

so not only are we in a bucket with the Coastals of the word, the CUSA/MW/Sunbelt might just be closer to the Coastal in this regard, than it is to the SEC/ACC/B1G.  i believe that the big12 is in limbo just behind those three, brand-wise, and i question their long term future.

after that- i think it's all the same.  sure, some of those conferences are FBS (the MAC) but really- is the football and NIL money any better at... Kent State... than a place like Richmond?  Towson?  Maybe.  i think the question is degree.

i do believe the AAC has some branding power (USF, Army, Navy, ECU, memphis, temple).  but in my eyes, well behind the big12.