Power Ranking the Rumored New C-USA and MWC College Football League

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When a conference loses majority of its top members, what does it do? Apparently it dissolves and joins forces with another conference.

At least that's what the C-USA and the MWC are reportedly thinking about doing. The MWC has recently lost TCU and Boise State, while the C-USA has watched Houston, SMU, UCF and Memphis jump ship.

This merger would be a complete new league of the remaining teams from each conference. Each team would participate in all sports, except for Hawaii which would be a football member only, which of course makes it a 15-member conference for all sports and 16-member football conference.

This won't take effect until the 2013-14 academic year, which means the C-USA and the MWC will remain as they are heading into next season.

Here are the power rankings for each team in the new conference that's expected to be created.

16. New Mexico

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This team has only won one game each in the last three seasons. Do I really need to explain further on why this team is ranked where they are?

15. UAB

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It's going to be a long time before the Blazers are competitive. We're talking about a program that's only won a combined 18 games in the last five seasons. I really don't see this team making much progress over the next few years unless they get lucky in the recruiting process.

14. UNLV

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The Rebels have been absolutely brutal to watch as they haven't made a bowl game since 2000. They've only won more than two games twice in the last eight years. This is not one of the programs you want to brag about if your team is in this conference. 

13. Rice

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When you've only won a total of 10 games in the last three years combined, there's a problem. Rice has only reached two bowl games since 1961 and has only won at least six games, three times since 1997.

Although they are showing some improvements like beating Purdue and Memphis last season, this is still a program that is by far one of the weaker teams in the conference.

12. Tulane

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The last time the Green Wave made a bowl game was in 2002. They've only won nine games in the last three years combined, and there's not many bright spots for this program moving forward.

11. Colorado State

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Unlike many teams in this conference, the Rams have at least shown that they're capable of pulling off a solid season or two. The problem is that they've finished the last three seasons with a 3-9 record. If they can catch fire under new head coach Jim McElwain, they may move up in the rankings.

10. Texas-El Paso

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UTEP hasn't won a bowl game since 1967, and with that, I honestly feel sorry for anybody who is a student or a fan of this program. That's just way too long for any team to go without winning something.

The good news is that the Miners are winning around five games the last few years, which means that they are on the brink of possibly snapping that streak.

9. Marshall

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Marshall may possibly be a program that's on the rise as it's won two bowl games in the last three seasons. Hopefully for the Herd, they can keep it up under head coach Doc Holliday and build a program that's produced a few solid players at the next level.

8. East Carolina

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East Carolina has the talent to become a force in this conference, it just needs a bit more consistency from head coach Ruffin McNeil. Regardless, this is a team that's reached five bowl games in the last six years and won back-to-back C-USA titles in 2008 and 2009.

7. Wyoming

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Is it just me or do you also believe that Wyoming could turn into a solid program under Dave Christensen?

He's already led it to two bowl games in his first two seasons. He's bringing in talented players and if they can build on 18 wins in three years, the Cowboys may be heading in the right direction.

6. Tulsa

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Anytime you're a team that averages 30 plus points a game like most Tulsa teams do, you have a chance to win a lot of ball games. The problem for the Golden Hurricane is finding players who can actually play defense. If Bill Blankenship and company can do that, Tulsa will be a team to watch out for in this conference.

5. Hawaii

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You won't see Hawaii in the Top 25 anytime soon, but it's an exciting team that is worth watching if you end up staying up late on a Saturday night. Hawaii scores a ton of points and nearly knocked off USC back in 2010 in one of the more interesting matchups of the year.

The Warriors aren't a team that's fantastic, but they do compete and are at least watchable.

4. Fresno State

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Fresno State may have had a down season last year as it finished with a 4-9 record, but for the most part it's a competitive program. This is a team that will usually win you seven or eight games and reach a bowl game. It may even sneak in the Top 25 once or twice, as well.

3. Air Force

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The third best team in this conference may not exactly excite anyone, but they are one of the more competitive teams in the conference. That triple-option Air Force runs can give nearly any defense in the country fits and it's reached five consecutive bowl games.

The Falcons are a team that you must watch out for in this conference.

2. Nevada

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Say what you want about the Wolf Pack, but this is a program that's appeared in a bowl game for the last seven years. They're also extremely competitive against Boise State every year they play them as well. Nevada is a consistent team that are no pushovers. It may not get much of the credit as it deserves, but it is one of the best teams in this conference and should be one of the favorites to win it once it's officially created.

1. Southern Miss

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Southern Miss may have lost its head coach, but it remains a talented team. This is a program that's reached a bowl game 14 times out of the last 15 years. It also knocked off the Houston Cougars last season to win the C-USA Championship. This is a very tough team that could even compete in a BCS conference if it were given the chance.

Randy Chambers is a B/R featured columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].