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Definitely a conundrum. I could see the B1G making a run at Virginia and Missouri in the next round of chaos. The SEC takes Texas and OU, and poaches VT or NC State from the ACC to make up for Missouri.

I think the SEC would prefer this, and initiate it if it could, lol.  I know for sure Texas and VT are better than Mizzou academically and all 3 (w/ OU) are leaps and bounds better in football.

I think Louisville was mid major at the time. I don't put them in the same class as Pitt, BC, VaTech, etc. 

But back on topic - I personally consider the Big East programs that remained after being poached by the ACC and found new homes in the XII or ACC 8 years later to be P5-level programs.  I can't view Pitt or WV or BC or Syracuse as mid-majors or Other5 programs, even in that compromised, weaker Big East. 



I think most of you agree with that.  Now, what about Louisville?  They hopped into the poached Big East, had a 12-1 season, and eventually found themselves in the ACC.  UL obviously made the jump from Other5 to Power5, but when did that occur?  Was it when they joined the poached Big East (2005), played against Pitt, WV, BC, and SU every year, or were they still Other5 until they joined the ACC in 2014? 

(UL spent a year in the American after the Big East died and before joining the ACC)

I thought UL earned its stripes as a P5 (or P6) team in 2006 when they went 12-1 and won what was actually a pretty tough BE that season.  UL, WVU, and Rutgers all finished in the top 12 in the country.  USF was 9-4, Cincinnati was 8-5.  The 2006 season is also another indicator that the BE was playing at a level commiserate with the rest of the BCS conferences.  Anyone know the BE OOC record against other BCS conferences was that season?  13-6.  Without looking it up that was probably the best among the BCS conferences that season.  Does that mean it was the best?  Of course not, but it was playing at a level that it showed those teams belonged in that grouping.

The last two seasons the AAC has went 7-13 and 8-15 against other P5 schools (this includes games against ND and BYU).  The AAC is the best of the G5 conferences but it has never had a year where it had a winning record in those type of OOC games.  Now, could the AAC build to that if it were granted the privileges of a power conference?  Idk, maybe.  But right now it isn’t performing at the level the BE was during the time it was a conference.

I think Louisville was mid major at the time. I don't put them in the same class as Pitt, BC, VaTech, etc.

I'm leaning towards this, with UL 'becoming' P5 when they joined the ACC.

Really though, with all the realignment that has transpired since the Big East got going, and there has been a lot, the only net change with regards to P5 status is that Louisville, Utah and TCU have been promoted, while Temple has been demoted. Aside from the Owls, all of the original Big East FB members are currently in P5 Conferences. The ones that didn't make the cut were all added down the stretch, starting with UConn, then Cincy, USF, etc.

So do you guys think it's weird to consider the Big East veterans as P5 and Louisville non-P5 during the years they were together in the Big East in retrospect?  I know it's uber-inconsistent, but the arguments are sound.

la ville doesn't' belong