tenbobnote

Lakesbison has carried the torch well.

In other words: let's deflect because I don't have a good answer. Like I said though, It'll be good for the MW in the long run The AAC just passed over some better brands to get Texas in attempts to screw the MWC in a land grab. That's what just happened.

There's pressure to have them expand. It's defensive. They're likely going to have teams leave in the next couple years. Craig Thomson and at least the CSU AD have publicly said as much in the last week or so. They just thought they had more time. https://www.ktik.com/2021/10/15/craig-thompson-mountain-west-commissioner-on-expansion-cfp-and-gonzaga-basketball/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athletic-director-joe-parker-joins-to-talk-about-the/id1509883324?i=1000537540349

The truth is staring you down the face! NDSU is 3x more popular than Nevada. Embrace it! It would make the league stronger.

The brand is bigger than Fargo.

We all just want to be loved and accepted

I'm sorry but this is laughably off. No way any FCS team except maybe Montana would be considered over NDSU.

Source?

Addressing the MW point of view: You're seeing how it is now. Not what it could likely be. If Air Force, CSU, SDSU, and Boise are gone, Wyoming, Utah State, and NMSU are all basically on their own island. The proposed Texas backfill has practically the same distance away (except UTEP) as NDSU. There's not going to be that big of a difference to Fresno if they'd be going to UTSA or NDSU in flight miles. The only difference would be that NDSU would have a packed house and fans that watch the game. Addressing the NDSU point of view: They fly quite a lot already. They just flew to Maryland. They'll fly to Ohio and Illinois this year too. They already fly in an even lower revenue conference with fans that care a lot less than a gutted MWC.

So, that just leaves just New Mexico for the MWC ... slim pickings ...

What I REALLY don't understand is why so many people here seem like zombies. NDSU BAD. UTEP GOOD. No matter if you show them the HORRIBLE ticket sales they all have and that it doesn't matter for recruiting if NO ONE IN San Antonio cares about UTSA or that NDSU is close to being more nationally recognizable than all those brands combined AND that NDSU is like 6-0 against p5 teams in the last decade. It's insanity.

With answers like this, I'm starting to understand why the MWC is in the situation they're in...

Thought exercise. What team's brand would you rather want?

According to sagarin each conferences mean is: MVFC: 58.41 MWC-West: 66.45 MWC-Mountain: 68.04 Big 12: 78.54 So, statistically the MVFC is to the MWC as the MWC is to the BIG 12 with a 10 point jump for each. NDSU is historically at the top of the MVFC. Boise State is historically at the top of the MWC. Boise state is joining the Big 12.

Was comparing to Wyoming ...

Well, they are only allowed so many scholarships so you're going to see a lot of walk ons. Either way they get enough players regionally and nationally to make a roster that could compete this year in the MWC

NDSU recruits nationally right now. https://247sports.com/college/north-dakota-state/Season/2020-Football/Commits/ 2nd point: Yes.

Right now it's getting more common to hear that boosters are just giving away their season tickets until they join FBS. They're losing interest in the lack of competition and interest from other teams in the conference. Plus no FBS team will schedule us around here anymore which was a HUGE draw.

There's a surprising amount of not knowing how large the NDSU brand is on this forum. There's also a surprising amount of disillusionment as to how much some of these bottom tier Texas schools could help with recruiting. THE MARKET DOES NOT MATTER IF NO ONE CARES.

Notice you picked a different channel that should beat ESPN.

If you want a full stadium and awesome fan engagement, NDSU is the clear answer. Montana 2nd, Montana state 3rd. And those bottom tier Texas schools somewhere at 4+.