Should UH be admitted to a power 5 conference? (Houston, Waco: schools, stadium)

[ParaguaneroSwag]

All my life, I've thought the UH Coogs didn't really need to be in a power 5 conference. While they are established more than many other schools, they weren't on the same level as most of the bigs in the P5 conferences. Plus, why would they need to since A&M is right there and the Astros, Rockets, and Texans are all located in the city.

More recently, I've looked at how competitive the football and basketball programs are and the enhanced facilities and am starting to rethink it. If a program has all the accolades, let them in. Your thoughts?

[okcthunder1945]

It seems like a no brainer but football politics and such....

[hbcu]

Ain’t happening. Why?

Your in Waco, Manhattan (Kansas), Ames, Stillwater, etc. and you add Houston to the mix you lose the biggest selling you have by admitting the 4th largest city to the mix.

[ftbend06]

I did not go to UH but think it’s deserving of being in a P5 conference. There’s lots of biased theories why it’s not, but the most level-headed thing I’ve often heard is that it does not add enough TVs to bring them into a conference. When it makes economic sense for that reason to bring them in, I think it will happen.

[jfre81]

Keep winning and being at Top 25 regular in both football and hoops long enough and it'll happen, sooner or later. Stay relevant and give people a reason to pay attention.

[Houston parent]

Commuter schools with small fan bases don't make economic sense for Power 5 conferences. It also makes no sense to divide up the same TV market between more schools.


If UH ever wants to be in a big power 5 conference they have to go from being a mostly local brand to at least a regional brand, and build up a following that allows them to sell out a large stadium regularly. Even then, they'll have to convince a conference without a presence in Texas to add them. The Big 12 already has Texas split 4 ways. The SEC already has A&M. There is no way the ACC, PAC or Big 10 are taking Houston.


The way things stand now, UH has to hope that a Texas school defects from the Big 12 (unlikely) so they can fill the gap.

[Agnazub]

Originally Posted by Houston parent

There is no way the ACC, PAC or Big 10 are taking Houston.

I'm curious why you don't think these conferences would take Houston? I may be missing something, but I feel like it would be a interesting play for the ACC.

[turkeydance]

how is Houston's academic ranking?
the ACC cares about that.

[Spade]

Houston parent basically said what I was going to say. Houston really adds no eyeballs to any conference. The Big 12 and SEC already has the Houston market and there are to many Texas teams in the Big 12 as it is. The Pac 12 covets Texas because they bring in all the markets for Texas. Same thing with Big 10. TCU is lucky they are in the Big 12 but if the conference breaks up, you will be hard pressed to see TCU find its way back into a power 5 conference. Same with Baylor. The political stuff thing keeping these teams joined is not that much of a deal anymore.

Originally Posted by turkeydance

how is Houston's academic ranking?
the ACC cares about that.

As does the Big 10 and Pac 12.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Spade

The Big 12 and SEC already has the Houston market and there are to many Texas teams in the Big 12 as it is. The Pac 12 covets Texas because they bring in all the markets for Texas.

Even a losing UT football team brings more viewers than UH can.