(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

They're a combined 10-27 since going independent. If you want to make the claim that you're better than the MAC/CUSA/SunBelt, they have to do much better than that.

(02-28-2024 02:28 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

They're a combined 10-27 since going independent. If you want to make the claim that you're better than the MAC/CUSA/SunBelt, they have to do much better than that.

It has nothing to do with performance on the field.

Its whether a football membership in MAC/CUSA/SunBelt provide benefits over independence.

(02-28-2024 02:48 PM)ccbfan Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 02:28 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

They're a combined 10-27 since going independent. If you want to make the claim that you're better than the MAC/CUSA/SunBelt, they have to do much better than that.

It has nothing to do with performance on the field.

Its whether a football membership in MAC/CUSA/SunBelt provide benefits over independence.

Right, but I think the point is that UConn thinks they deserve a P4 invite, while having football that couldn't cut it in the AAC. With those two thins in mind, I doubt they are in a conference any time soon.

(02-28-2024 08:05 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 07:41 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Connecticut was on the shortlist (final 2) when Maryland left and the ACC ultimately bent toward the will of the football schools and chose Louisville. I imagine they haven’t fallen that far down the list. I do think South Florida creeps past Connecticut if either or both of Florida St and Miami to the P2. I think Connecticut is the next best option but I could envision a scenario where they fall behind Memphis and Tulane, as well.

UConn would be a great addition for some conference.
There are drawbacks.
Football stadium is 35 miles from campus?
Blumenthal's law suit against the ACC.
There aren't enough college football fans in New England to support two P4 college teams.

BTW if the ACC wouldn't invite West Virginia because of academics, they wouldn't invite Memphis either.

UConn has a better chance of joining the Big 12 than the ACC.

(02-28-2024 11:28 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Why couldn’t UConn play an 8-game MAC schedule plus 4 P4 games?

That would seem to be the best of both worlds—you still have the benefit of conference membership and a path to the CFP but also a strong slate of home games that includes 2 P4s (and presumably 2 on the road).

But then they would be admitting they are G5 football program. They can remain scheduing 4 or so P4 programs and be selective in scheduling mostly mostly upper tier G5s, aside from maintaining the annual game w/ UMass.

They can have a BYU-lite type indy schedule and claim they are at least w/in reach of P status. If they think there is a reasonable chance of eventual acceptance from the ACC/B12, they need to schedule so as to maintain that possibiity.

(02-28-2024 12:07 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:32 AM)darkdragon99 Wrote:  [quote='Fighting Muskie' pid='19488027' dateline='1709137739']
MAC has no reasons to give them any concessions. MAC will say all sports or nothing and UConn will say No. People would be shocked and stunned if the MAC said you can come join for football only. Those days are over.

The sentiment among MAC fans may or may not be the sentiment among MAC Presidents. At some price, the MAC might be willing to consider it ... they are one of the few schools where they could spread H/A OOC basketball games between MBB and WBB and it would still be a sweetener.

I agree with this. At some point, the MAC would be fine bringing on UConn football only. It just comes down to numbers.

I suspect Western Kentucky is the MAC's Plan A here to get to 14. We seem to have seen a shift where the MAC is more focused on long-term thinking and full members. But if UConn offered enough in terms of basketball games or something else, the synergy with UMass and the brand value they bring is obvious.

(02-28-2024 02:48 PM)ccbfan Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 02:28 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

They're a combined 10-27 since going independent. If you want to make the claim that you're better than the MAC/CUSA/SunBelt, they have to do much better than that.

It has nothing to do with performance on the field.

Its whether a football membership in MAC/CUSA/SunBelt provide benefits over independence.

No, I think it's whether UConn football provides benefits to MAC/CUSA/SB over them staying independent (or I guess it's actually both).

And the answer to that depends on what tv will give you. Can they continue to get a P4 home game and a half per year without the flexibility of an Indy schedule? Are the home games they already have booked worth enough more for the media deal to go up enough (per school) to make it worth it? Are those leagues comfortable with that amount of extra money making up for the hit to overall league strength of schedule?

Etc.

(02-28-2024 08:05 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 07:41 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Connecticut was on the shortlist (final 2) when Maryland left and the ACC ultimately bent toward the will of the football schools and chose Louisville. I imagine they haven’t fallen that far down the list. I do think South Florida creeps past Connecticut if either or both of Florida St and Miami to the P2. I think Connecticut is the next best option but I could envision a scenario where they fall behind Memphis and Tulane, as well.

UConn would be a great addition for some conference.
There are drawbacks.
Football stadium is 35 miles from campus?
Blumenthal's law suit against the ACC.
There aren't enough college football fans in New England to support two P4 college teams.

BTW if the ACC wouldn't invite West Virginia because of academics, they wouldn't invite Memphis either.

Those teams are in different states (so different fanbases) and far from each other. That and "no one" supports Boston College, not even in Boston so I don't know how another team that represents a state flagship of another state is gonna make a difference.

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

The question is do media and bowl partners think that way? BYU and New Mexico State have left the land of FBS independents, Army and UMass are on their way out. Is independence practical for anyone not named Notre Dame (and they're guaranteed five games vs. the ACC a year)? Also for UConn they'd have a slim and none chance of making the Playoff either way but at least a conference championship gives them that path of getting in.

(02-28-2024 06:17 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

The question is do media and bowl partners think that way? BYU and New Mexico State have left the land of FBS independents, Army and UMass are on their way out. Is independence practical for anyone not named Notre Dame (and they're guaranteed five games vs. the ACC a year)? Also for UConn they'd have a slim and none chance of making the Playoff either way but at least a conference championship gives them that path of getting in.

BYU got invited to a P5, otherwise I'm certain they'd still be indy too. UConn's athletic department is more like BYU than like New Mexico State and UMass.

(02-28-2024 07:49 PM)HartfordHusky Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 06:17 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

The question is do media and bowl partners think that way? BYU and New Mexico State have left the land of FBS independents, Army and UMass are on their way out. Is independence practical for anyone not named Notre Dame (and they're guaranteed five games vs. the ACC a year)? Also for UConn they'd have a slim and none chance of making the Playoff either way but at least a conference championship gives them that path of getting in.

BYU got invited to a P5, otherwise I'm certain they'd still be indy too. UConn's athletic department is more like BYU than like New Mexico State and UMass.

Quite. Neither NMSU nor UMass were regularly hosting one to two Power conference schools.

Q: How long till UConn Football joins a Conference?
A: Until the ACC implodes.

Have to wait and see what happens to the Acc. If UConn is lucky the BE and Acc merge to make a mega BB conference which is good for the Acc network. And pieces together a decent football conference. There is only going to be 2 super conferences in football we already know who they are. If those conferences want someone there is nothing any other conference can do to stop it.

(02-28-2024 06:17 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

The question is do media and bowl partners think that way? BYU and New Mexico State have left the land of FBS independents, Army and UMass are on their way out. Is independence practical for anyone not named Notre Dame (and they're guaranteed five games vs. the ACC a year)? Also for UConn they'd have a slim and none chance of making the Playoff either way but at least a conference championship gives them that path of getting in.

UConn has about a 100 million dollar budget.

They aren't ND but they sure spend like they are.

(02-29-2024 10:54 AM)Garden_KC Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 06:17 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

The question is do media and bowl partners think that way? BYU and New Mexico State have left the land of FBS independents, Army and UMass are on their way out. Is independence practical for anyone not named Notre Dame (and they're guaranteed five games vs. the ACC a year)? Also for UConn they'd have a slim and none chance of making the Playoff either way but at least a conference championship gives them that path of getting in.

UConn has about a 100 million dollar budget.

They aren't ND but they sure spend like they are.

UConn is one of the worst deficit over-spenders, and given the number of deficit over-spenders, that is saying something.

I think their total deficit that was subsidized by the school was around $35 million last year. My USF is very bad as well.

(02-29-2024 10:58 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 10:54 AM)Garden_KC Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 06:17 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

The question is do media and bowl partners think that way? BYU and New Mexico State have left the land of FBS independents, Army and UMass are on their way out. Is independence practical for anyone not named Notre Dame (and they're guaranteed five games vs. the ACC a year)? Also for UConn they'd have a slim and none chance of making the Playoff either way but at least a conference championship gives them that path of getting in.

UConn has about a 100 million dollar budget.

They aren't ND but they sure spend like they are.

UConn is one of the worst deficit over-spenders, and given the number of deficit over-spenders, that is saying something.

I think their total deficit that was subsidized by the school was around $35 million last year. My USF is very bad as well.

UConn has a big deficit athletic culture. I don't see how they care about missing a 3 million payment from the CFP as a G5 member like UMass would.

(02-29-2024 10:51 AM)mike012779 Wrote:  Have to wait and see what happens to the Acc. If UConn is lucky the BE and Acc merge to make a mega BB conference which is good for the Acc network. And pieces together a decent football conference. There is only going to be 2 super conferences in football we already know who they are. If those conferences want someone there is nothing any other conference can do to stop it.

Yeah people are going to hate this but I was a fan of the old hybrid Big East.

My hopeful plausible conference is the current Big East +

Uconn
Cuse
Pitt
Wake
Duke
Louisville
BC
whatever leftover ACC team.

Hybrid

(02-28-2024 08:41 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  UConn to the MAC?

They burned their AAC bridge.

That might not be a bad place to go as a football only. I think they need to be included in the CFP picture or their difficult recruiting situation will become even worse. Can they survive as an indy---probably---but thats all they will be doing. I think their football program could potentially be pretty decent as a MAC school. Then down the line they might get a shot to join a gutted ACC with some of their old Big East football partners---which would be a really ideal east coast "football only" home fit for UConn.

(02-29-2024 12:00 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 08:41 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  UConn to the MAC?

They burned their AAC bridge.

That might not be a bad place to go as a football only. I think they need to be included in the CFP picture or their difficult recruiting situation will become even worse. Can they survive as an indy---probably---but thats all they will be doing. I think their football program could be potentially be pretty decent as a MAC school. Then down the line they might get a shot to rejoin a gutted ACC---which would be a really ideal east coast "football only" home fit for UConn.

That "and then down the line" is part of why the MAC ought to put WKU ahead of UConn, if WKU is available.

(02-28-2024 04:17 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 02:48 PM)ccbfan Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 02:28 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:34 AM)tf8693 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:25 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think the better question is how long until a conference will take Yukon football.

Depends on the conference. CUSA or MAC would take UConn as a football-only member now, no question about it. At most, they would ask for an occasional OOC game in men's and/or women's basketball. But UConn would never accept that offer. They're trying to make the BYU argument -- we're a football independent and therefore a cut above the G5. Football-only membership in CUSA or the MAC ends that argument.

For my money, UConn would have accepted a football-only offer to the AAC at the time they left for the Big East. That might have been forthcoming had UConn been dominating that conference in football. But they weren't, so it wasn't. I still think UConn would accept such an offer, but I don't see it as any more likely now than in the past.

The M2 conferences don't want UConn presently, but that could change depending on how many schools they lose in the near future.

They're a combined 10-27 since going independent. If you want to make the claim that you're better than the MAC/CUSA/SunBelt, they have to do much better than that.

It has nothing to do with performance on the field.

Its whether a football membership in MAC/CUSA/SunBelt provide benefits over independence.

No, I think it's whether UConn football provides benefits to MAC/CUSA/SB over them staying independent (or I guess it's actually both).

And the answer to that depends on what tv will give you. Can they continue to get a P4 home game and a half per year without the flexibility of an Indy schedule? Are the home games they already have booked worth enough more for the media deal to go up enough (per school) to make it worth it? Are those leagues comfortable with that amount of extra money making up for the hit to overall league strength of schedule?

Etc.

They are at Maryland 8/31, Duke 9/14, Syracuse 11/23 and home to Wake Forest 10/19 next year. In 2025, its at Syracuse 9/6, Ohio St. 10/18 and host Duke 11/8.
The MAC would fit that in. In 2026 its at UNC 9/19 and Duke 11/7 with home games Maryland 9/12, IU 9/26 and Syracuse 10/3. 4 P4 games would not be hard to fit into a MAC schedule. All the schools need their buy games so they would work it out. Right now they have scheduled 4, 3, 2 and 1 P4 games in 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030, respectively.