finding schools to fill their void would be a higher priority than adding another east coast school (UMass). Don't get me wrong I do think UMass would be a good choice because the AAC would have six schools to make up the East Division (if the conference decided to keep the divisions for all sports). However, Tulsa, SMU, and Tulane would then be on their own island. I could see Tulsa and/or SMU approach the MWC about joining the conference if the AAC's expansion ends up placing both schools on a peninsula (which could still have an island feel). If the AAC decided to add Rice, then that could be enough to keep them from leaving the conference. Although it may require adding 3 schools from that part of the country (and have enough to form a West Division) to keep them from leaving. The ACC could balance out Navy's football-only membership by adding Army as a football-only member (14 football members) and making that game a protected cross-division game (that is always played the week after the CCG).

The reason I didn't include Tulane is because I could see AAC decide to become an "East of the Mississippi River" conference by adding So. Miss, UAB, MTSU, Marshall, or any of the MAC schools.