Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson said that the league has "refocused its priorities" toward earning a spot in the CFP by "scheduling games in a way that gives its teams the highest chance of being the top-ranked champion," according to Brooks Kubena of the ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE. That includes "keeping the conference schedule at eight games so there is more room for nonconference games, and scheduling those nonconference games for competitive purposes instead of gains in revenue." Sun Belt teams have been "regularly competing against Power 5 teams because it was another way to earn revenue." Benson, speaking at the conference's media days yesterday in New Orleans, said that it was common five years ago for league members "to be scheduling up to three Power 5 teams." However, Benson "now expects its teams to schedule one game against a Power 5 team, two games against Group of 5 teams and one game" against an FCS team. Kubena noted by focusing on Group of 5 games in the nonconference schedule, the Sun Belt can have the "opportunity to distinguish itself before the CFP voting committee." Although the schools would "lose out on money they would earn from Power 5 matchups, the schools could make up for that money if a Sun Belt team reaches a New Year's Six bowl." The Sun Belt league is "gambling on itself to earn a higher share of postseason revenue" (ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, 7/25).
HEALTHY OUTLOOK: In Texas, Nick Castillo noted Benson is "confident in the Sun Belt's current position" in the college football landscape. He highlighted the conference's growth in gross revenue from $11M in '11 to $31M in '16 as a "sign of significant improvement." Benson: "The financial health of the Sun Belt is trending up as is the financial benefits from being a member of the Sun Belt." He said that the league has "greatly benefited from its relationship with ESPN." Twelve of the conference’s home games will be "featured on ESPN’s TV channels, while the other 56 home games will be on ESPN3." The Sun Belt has a "long-term agreement with the network, which stretches" through the '19 season. Castillo noted Benson also "laid the groundwork for next year’s conference championship game." The league is "working with ESPN to finalize a date, which will either be Friday, November 30, 2018 or Saturday December 1 with the highest rated team hosting the game" (SAN MARCOS DAILY RECORD, 7/25). In Louisiana, Ted Lewis wrote the Sun Belt is "certainly more stable than it was five years ago when Benson succeeded Wright Waters, whose 11-year battle to get the league on a solid football footing shows how difficult that job was." Thanks to the Big 12’s decision last year not to expand, there is "none of that nasty public other-side-of-the-fence peeking going on until the end of this decade" (Acadiana ADVOCATE, 7/25).
