G5 without and basically demand a place at the table in the playoff.

Army is their first natural choice. East coast, easy for travel for the cadets and for the conference in general. Natural rivalry with Navy. That would make it 12, and that change could happen in 2022.

The only thing to stop it would be a group to make a better offer for 14 or 16 max.

For 14, you can make an argument for a combo of BYU, Boise, Army. You could also go with BYU, Boise, Liberty, and that's where it gets sticky, because if they add Army first, then of the best teams outside the P5, you have BYU, Boise and Liberty vying for 2 slots. in a 14 team leauge, if you go 16 teams, and a conference championship, then you need to probably add Air Force (to complete the trifecta) or Troy, maybe W Michigan.

Point here is that unless you feel really good about the PAC 12 going to 14, or that the Big 12 does, then the AAC is your smart bet besides staying independent.

A 16 team conference with two divisions isn't a bad thing. If you had two division champs go undefeated and play for the conference championship, you for sure have access to the playoff.