Alabany had an uptick of fans in the seat since they went far in the playoffs, but when you have teams that lose a lot in football? Fans tend not to show up.

(02-27-2024 11:16 AM)Garden_KC Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 01:54 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  It will be Missouri State as #12 for CUSA.

Another big hit to the MVC as they are the biggest school still in the conference.

Reason for Illinois State to want to flip MAC IMO.

Why doesnt Illinois State to the MAC never get brought up? Seems like a great fit.

(02-27-2024 11:58 AM)nodak651 Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 11:16 AM)Garden_KC Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 01:54 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  It will be Missouri State as #12 for CUSA.

Another big hit to the MVC as they are the biggest school still in the conference.

Reason for Illinois State to want to flip MAC IMO.

Why doesnt Illinois State to the MAC never get brought up? Seems like a great fit.

Not currently FBS. No recent articles about them and FBS.

(02-26-2024 06:23 PM)Mid-Major Hoops Enthusiast Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 06:06 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  This is one of those "friend of a friend" things, so take that for what it is, but...I've heard Western Carolina is very interested in Conference USA.

Part of me wants to dismiss it, as the SoCon unanimously agreed to double its exit fee to $2M (high for an FCS conference) just 2 years ago, but you never know.

Is CUSA interested in Western Carolina though? If we are looking at SoCon teams I thought there were reports maybe a couple months back that Samford were said to have more interest than them.

I've heard they were/are talking to each other. Whether that amounts to anything or not, I don't know.

(02-27-2024 01:54 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  It will be Missouri State as #12 for CUSA.

If WKU or Delaware goes to the MAC, who will be #11?

(02-15-2024 09:41 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-15-2024 10:04 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(02-15-2024 08:14 AM)benny_t Wrote:  

(02-14-2024 11:48 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(02-14-2024 11:27 PM)inutech Wrote:  The SB doesn't want us. Or need us. All four were in the :belt (only 3 for football) and left. It would mess up their divisions and just wouldn't really give them anything they need. Tech and WKU might be helpful on the field (on average, over time), but no money.

I think the SBC has their eyes on a couple of AAC schools. Just waiting for a few things to happen first and it might take 5 years or so. Now if we were to lose 2 teams to the AAC then I think LaTech and Delaware would be two schools we'd be interested in. But there's also the chance that the AAC taking two SBC schools might cause one AAC school to rethink their conference affiliation and it all depends on what ESPN values the additions versus the AAC exits if you know what I mean.

I think it would really depends on which schools we lose. Unless we lose a school in Louisiana I don't see us adding La Tech. Why would we add a 3rd school from the same state when 2 of them are basically in the same market and it's not a big market. Now if we lose Monroe I would not be opposed to La Tech.

Don't start thinking like the AAC now!

SB is about schools with similar profiles and tight geographic fit and history and rivalry and passion.

Not media markets - that's the AAC's bit.



(But as I've said, until/unless y'all lose someone in the west or decide to expand farther, this isn't realistically happening anytime soon).

Sun Belt doesn't have much history. Basically the old SLC schools-ULL, ULM and Arkansas St. who eventually got back together in the Sun Belt. ODU, CCU, GA St., USA are all new programs. USM has been playing with a bunch of schools now in the P4 or AAC. Texas St. and Troy were in the SLC together briefly, and a I think a while after ULL, ULM and Ark. St. left. You've got the App St./GSU/Marshall Southern Conference ties, but Marshall left the Southern in 1996.

(02-27-2024 08:17 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 01:54 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  It will be Missouri State as #12 for CUSA.

If WKU or Delaware goes to the MAC, who will be #11?

Idaho State.

I would be shocked if it is not Tarleton

Could this be the start of CUSA 5.0
UMass went to the MAC. Some are reporting the MAC is in conversations with 3 institutions. Imagine if Delaware, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee all flip to the MAC to 16 teams. Could the media contract value exceed 1M each to 18M?

(03-01-2024 09:04 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Could this be the start of CUSA 5.0
UMass went to the MAC. Some are reporting the MAC is in conversations with 3 institutions. Imagine if Delaware, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee all flip to the MAC to 16 teams. Could the media contract value exceed 1M each to 18M?

I've been meaning to congratulate you, Steve1981, on the MAC move. I'm hopeful it will be a positive for UMass. As an MTSU man, I'm disappointed C-USA didn't land UMass to "pair" with Delaware.

Worth noting: MTSU is better served being aligned with Western Kentucky than not. Being left behind in C-USA with WKU would not be good. But MTSU seems content in C-USA and, to be fair, might not deserve a MAC invite (as the school essentially passed on the previous offer).

(03-01-2024 09:08 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 09:04 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Could this be the start of CUSA 5.0
UMass went to the MAC. Some are reporting the MAC is in conversations with 3 institutions. Imagine if Delaware, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee all flip to the MAC to 16 teams. Could the media contract value exceed 1M each to 18M?

I've been meaning to congratulate you, Steve1981, on the MAC move. I'm hopeful it will be a positive for UMass. As an MTSU man, I'm disappointed C-USA didn't land UMass to "pair" with Delaware.

Worth noting: MTSU is better served being aligned with Western Kentucky than not. Being left behind in C-USA with WKU would not be good. But MTSU seems content in C-USA and, to be fair, might not deserve a MAC invite (as the school essentially passed on the previous offer).

Thank you and respect your post and mean no harm, but seen stuff including a map and scenarios with you three in blue.
Think WKU is the MAC's top target, perhaps UDel is a backup plan if nothing takes effect till July 1st.

(02-27-2024 11:29 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Alabany had an uptick of fans in the seat since they went far in the playoffs, but when you have teams that lose a lot in football? Fans tend not to show up.

What are you even talking about? Their attendance went down dramatically over the course of the season...

(03-01-2024 09:04 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Could this be the start of CUSA 5.0
UMass went to the MAC. Some are reporting the MAC is in conversations with 3 institutions. Imagine if Delaware, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee all flip to the MAC to 16 teams. Could the media contract value exceed 1M each to 18M?

Expect big cash.

(03-01-2024 09:04 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Could this be the start of CUSA 5.0
UMass went to the MAC. Some are reporting the MAC is in conversations with 3 institutions. Imagine if Delaware, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee all flip to the MAC to 16 teams. Could the media contract value exceed 1M each to 18M?

That'd be interesting but plausible. The MAC has been "stuck" in its geography for years. Expansion to Buffalo was good but still the Rust Belt. The attempt to lure MTSU/WKU a couple years was a good idea and UMass is solid add. If they were able to pry the former pair plus Delaware, it'd get really interesting for CUSA. CUSA would probably look to the MVFC and UAC for members.

MAC
Because I like divisions
East: Akron, Buffalo, Delaware, Kent St, Massachusetts, Middle Tennessee St, Ohio, Western Kentucky
West: Ball St, Bowling Green St, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan