Conference Realignment thread

[Nevada Convert]

On 11/28/2023 at 11:37 AM, utenation said:

If the 2 are going to have control over future assets, which seems like a healthy number, 1 million per MWC team is low ball. 
 

So with the no penalty for cherry picking and this: 

“While there is not expected to be a contractual requirement for a long-term merger between the two entities, there is an intent and understanding of full-time membership for OSU and WSU in the Mountain West or a merger”

It doesn’t seem like very firm footing for the MWC. Intent and handshakes don’t mean shit in this business. 

 

It is always good business practice to get all the issues in a bigger agreement nailed down in writing. But, verbal agreements have just as much legitimacy as written agreements, as long as there are witnesses or someone is taking meeting minutes and documents everything. Conversation may have been taped. There’s a lot we still don’t know, I think. It certainly doesn’t look great on its face. 

[Nevada Convert]

On 11/28/2023 at 2:27 PM, akbballfan said:

Chick in front of conference=deals like this. 

Dude, come on. Is this a Bob sock? 

[utenation]

On 11/28/2023 at 3:27 PM, Nevada Convert said:

It is always good business practice to get all the issues in a bigger agreement nailed down in writing. But, verbal agreements have just as much legitimacy as written agreements, as long as there are witnesses or someone is taking meeting minutes and documents everything. Conversation may have been taped. There’s a lot we still don’t know, I think. It certainly doesn’t look great on its face. 

Don’t hold your breath on this convert. CU took a bribe from ESPN/B12 to get the 4 corner dominos to fall. 
 

I wouldn’t trust anything that’s not in writing. Too many snakes in the grass. 
 

I want the MWC to succeed here. Trust me. 

[utgrizfan]

On 11/28/2023 at 3:39 PM, utenation said:

Don’t hold your breath on this convert. CU took a bribe from ESPN/B12 to get the 4 corner dominos to fall. 
 

I wouldn’t trust anything that’s not in writing. Too many snakes in the grass. 
 

I want the MWC to succeed here. Trust me. 

Worst case scenario if cherry picking is to occur in a couple years (I still think a full merger is more likely) any MWC teams left behind should be able to rebuild pretty easily. NMSU and UTEP would be 2 safe quick adds, after that you'd have the Montana schools, probably Idaho, Sac State ex.

[alum93]

On 11/28/2023 at 3:45 PM, utgrizfan said:

Worst case scenario if cherry picking is to occur in a couple years (I still full merger is more likely) any MWC teams left behind should be able to rebuild pretty easily. NMSU and UTEP would be 2 safe quick adds, after that you'd have the Montana schools, probably Idaho, Sac State ex.

I still think a merger is going to happen.  But just in case,  i am glad CUSA is getting their numbers up.  Delaware makes 11.  I expect to see another team join in next year to get to 12,  probably from Texas.  Liberty's deep pockets makes them the team to beat every year, including 2023.  I hope they stick around for a few years.  I am surprised to see a scheduling agreement without any strings attached.  $14M seems low as others have mentioned.

[utgrizfan]

On 11/28/2023 at 3:56 PM, alum93 said:

I still think a merger is going to happen.  But just in case,  i am glad CUSA is getting their numbers up.  Delaware makes 11.  I expect to see another team join in next year to get to 12,  probably from Texas.  Liberty's deep pockets makes them the team to beat every year, including 2023.  I hope they stick around for a few years.  I am surprised to see a scheduling agreement without any strings attached.  $14M seems low as others have mentioned.

If they are going for Divisions I'm thinking it will be either Tarleton State or Missouri State, believe you mentioned this earlier. Would still be a Frankenstein Conference but it wouldn't be terrible in an East/West approach. 

WEST:

NMSU, UTEP, SHSU, LT, Jacksonville State, Tarleton State(or)Missouri State 

EAST:

Delaware, Liberty, MTSU, WKU, Kennesaw State, FIU

Gives you 5 Divisional games and probably 3 Cross Division games (have a 2-1 home-away rotation every other year) as it would be the only way to save on travel.

[818SUDSFan]

On 11/28/2023 at 12:06 PM, An Admirer from the East said:

First of all, Im sure Gloria has the votes.

In all honesty, I hope you're correct. However, the two of us root for schools that spend adequate amounts of money on football. How many votes will Navarez need in order to overcome opposition from schools that don't?

[Brew_Poke]

On 11/28/2023 at 10:33 AM, alum93 said:

If NDSU really wanted to move up,  I would think they would have had opportunities.  The Sun Belt expanded.  CUSA lost multiple teams and rebuilt.  Jax State just went 8-4 and was within a touchdown on the road at South Carolina of pulling off an upset in SEC land.  Liberty is ranked #20 playing in CUSA.   I just don't think the powers that be really wanted to leave FCS.  There is nothing wrong with that.  With the additions of WSU and OSU i don't see the MWC as a viable option anytime soon.  With the AAC back filling with CUSA team, i don't see them as an option.  The Sun Belt is a regional conference that has proven to have solid G5 football and will challenge for a playoff spot in the new format.  I'll believe NDSU is serious about wanting to move to FBS when i see it.  

Maction.

[Headbutt]

On 11/28/2023 at 4:09 PM, 818SUDSFan said:

In all honesty, I hope you're correct. However, the two of us root for schools that spend adequate amounts of money on football. How many votes will Navarez need in order to overcome opposition from schools that don't?

Well, the schools that don't, don't because they're cash strapped.  An extra $1 million+ can buy a vote if you're broke.

[alum93]

On 11/28/2023 at 4:03 PM, utgrizfan said:

If they are going for Divisions I'm thinking it will be either Tarleton State or Missouri State, believe you mentioned this earlier. Would still be a Frankenstein Conference but it wouldn't be terrible in an East/West approach. 

WEST:

NMSU, UTEP, SHSU, LT, Jacksonville State, Tarleton State(or)Missouri State 

EAST:

Delaware, Liberty, MTSU, WKU, Kennesaw State, FIU

Gives you 5 Divisional games and probably 3 Cross Division games (have a 2-1 home-away rotation every other year) as it would be the only way to save on travel.

Both Liberty at 18 and NMSU at 31 finished above every single MWC team in these rankings for 2023.  I think the conference will be just fine moving forward and will always have a couple really good teams up top.  FBS is FBS.  The next big change will be P4 breaking away, and that won't affect any of us.  Some chairs might be shuffled around at G5, but it will be minimal.  My guess anyway.  The MWC will be better with WSU and OSU in 2025 or 2026.  NDSU might want to make a jump sooner rather than later.  Delaware just did.  Jax State won 8 games with Rich Rodriguez.  JMU is having a monster season in the Sun Belt.  

https://theathletic.com/5091830/2023/11/27/college-football-team-rankings-fbs-standings/

[Billings]

Monty show reporting that Basketball will also be included in the PAC2 scheduling agreement

 

 

[SalinasSpartan]

On 11/27/2023 at 2:28 PM, alum93 said:

That's kind of my point.  I was just playing the odds.  What are the odds a MWC team goes undefeated every year?  Probably not very high.  What are the odds someone from the Sun Belt, AAC goes undefeated in any given year?  Higher.  Would an undefeated Liberty from CUSA make it over a 1 loss MWC team?  So i kind of seeing it play out that the MWC will always get the bid for an undefeated team, but more often than not the undefeated team will come from another conference.  It will be interesting to watch it play out.  In a way, it's like watching the playoff committee argue about a 1 loss SEC team over a B12 or P12 team in the past.  That same scenario is going to start playing itself out at the G5 level.  Plus, i just think the top team or couple of teams are really good at the other G5 conferences as well.  How big a factor will strength of schedule be?  How much will WSU and OSU add?  We'll see.  Not bashing or being anti MWC.  I watch a lot of G5 football, and there are really good teams coast to coast.

Well no, that’s not your point. I am making the point that the MWC would be in a position similar to what the AAC currently occupies. They have routinely sent their champ to the NY6 bowl game. You are saying the MWC will not do this with OSU/WSU. Meaning you don’t think the MWC will assume the role the AAC currently occupies.

[SalinasSpartan]

On 11/27/2023 at 2:55 PM, AztecSU said:

It's been 10 years since anyone from the MW played in a big-time bowl. The AAC just lost its 3 best programs and will still send their champ to an NY6.

Neat. What is the point you are trying to make though? I am talking about a scenario where OSU/WSU have joined the MWC, and how that iteration of the MWC would stack up against the SBC and the AAC once the AAC swaps SMU for Army.

[SalinasSpartan]

On 11/28/2023 at 3:28 PM, Headbutt said:

Well, the schools that don't, don't because they're cash strapped.  An extra $1 million+ can buy a vote if you're broke.

Good point. In all honesty, it hadn’t even occurred to me that the Pac-2 would be paying for a scheduling agreement. 

[AztecSU]

On 11/28/2023 at 4:36 PM, SalinasSpartan said:

Neat. What is the point you are trying to make though? I am talking about a scenario where OSU/WSU have joined the MWC, and how that iteration of the MWC would stack up against the SBC and the AAC once the AAC swaps SMU for Army.

We’re not on equal footing. And adding two washed P5 programs that were never even better than Boise at its peak likely aren’t changing the conferences fortunes. 

[SalinasSpartan]

On 11/28/2023 at 5:30 PM, AztecSU said:

We’re not on equal footing. And adding two washed P5 programs that were never even better than Boise at its peak likely aren’t changing the conferences fortunes. 

Cool. I disagree.

[OzzyOzz]

On 11/28/2023 at 4:17 PM, Billings said:

Monty show reporting that Basketball will also be included in the PAC2 scheduling agreement

 

 

Who knows how the march madness tournament will be changed by all this. I can only speculate if it is my place to do so? 

In any case, from my pov, taking advantage of rail efficiencies is the easy solution to many budgetary concerns..if there are any.

And tv rights is a mess I don't know much about..

I mean, the Pac2 can sell rights to its media, but who buys? Perhaps just the 2..I mean, I don't understand the question and it has to do with viewership rankings..

Each school must obviously be entitled to their own history and media likeness and archives..

[OzzyOzz]

On 11/28/2023 at 6:06 PM, SalinasSpartan said:

Cool. I disagree.

I also disagree. This just becomes a conversation about the conference playoff spots order..

With 12 playoff spots, a theoretical P4 of 2 or 3 playoff spots each leaves only 4 spots left, depending. If P5 gets 1.5 bids, a bid is left, and another half bid as well..

Or it needs to be explained how it will work..

Anyway, they'll figure it out..it's all temporary until it breaks to 16 playoff spots eventually which, with how much the game is expanding might be happening soon, who knows...

 

[Headbutt]

On 11/28/2023 at 6:30 PM, AztecSU said:

We’re not on equal footing. And adding two washed P5 programs that were never even better than Boise at its peak likely aren’t changing the conferences fortunes. 

Well, for now, CBS and FOX are thinking that the addition of WSU/OSU to our schedule is worth $14 million for one year's worth of FB games, BB not considered yet.  According to media reports of course.  I'd call that an indicator that they could participate in changing our fortunes.  Yeah, we'll still be G5, but it is starting to look like a wealthier G5.

[Someone Else]

1 minute ago, Headbutt said:

Well, for now, CBS and FOX are thinking that the addition of WSU/OSU to our schedule is worth $14 million for one year's worth of FB games, BB not considered yet.  According to media reports of course.  I'd call that an indicator that they could participate in changing our fortunes.  Yeah, we'll still be G5, but it is starting to look like a wealthier G5.

For clarification purposes you are saying the current MWC which is getting in the neighborhood of 6 mil per school will now be getting 14 mil per school just by adding OSU/WSU... or am I misunderstanding your post?

If you are saying 14 mil per school where are you seeing that?

In my opinion that would be astounding.