Conference Realignments - Take 2

[Hawkster]

The thing is, no one moves up without a conference invite and it seems conferences have figured out how to extort $$$ out of the FCS schools.   I doubt any FCS school moves up for less dollars than Sac State paid and who knows if it will cost the next school even more.   Don't kid yourselves that the next couples schools that move up will get a break on the cost, these conferences all have dollar signs in their eyes.   I also don't see any movement for a few years at least while the dust clears and it depends on what Congress does.

[southpaw]

JMU was a great story this year. But, it's a tall order and there can only be one G6 school every year that does that. 

So, tell me who on JMU's schedule excites you? Who will NDSU get to come to Fargo for a game? Certainly, no P4 teams.  Same goes for UND if they were FBS.

[zonadub]

Playing the devil’s advocate here…

If G6 is the ultimate goal, why make the move at that cost? Other than the loss of NDSU (and probably St Thomas), why move out of MVFC/Summit to FCS G6 under the current setup? I know most will scoff at this, but NDSU’s real goal is probably Big 12, and they will probably advocate for SDSU (not UND) to join them in that move. If UND’s goal is to play as MAC West or CUSA North without a playoff, the possibility of any national titles other than hockey is no better than as FCS.

While living in Arizona, NDSU’s title run brought a lot of attention. When people found out we were from North Dakota, NDSU’s titles often came up. Not once was UND’s hockey program the topic, even when I was wearing a Brien logo’d cap with UND logo headcovers in my golf bag.

i was in the ‘don’t be left behind’ camp for years, but in the current environment with the ransoms being paid to move to G6, some real introspection will have to precede any move to a level that is really not above MVFC and the Big Sky.

 

now, here is my disclaimer… if the other Dakotas, the Montanas, Idaho and some of the other elite FCS programs go FBS as a group, then UND should, by all means, join them. That group would make MWC East/CUSA North/MAC West a formidable conference division.

[GeauxSioux]

2 hours ago, AJS said:

Posted in February.

---

Forming a new Division for Conference USA seems like the move. For FB you play your division (8 games) and have a title game with the winner of each division. Even for Olympic sports, is travel that much more of a concern? Home and Home in your division, then one game against the other division. This is a win for everyone.  

Division

Idaho

Idaho State or Weber State

Montana

Montana State

UND

USD

SDSU

St. Thomas 

Missouri State

Division

Delaware

FIU

Jacksonville State

Kennesaw State

Liberty

Middle Tennessee State

NM State

Sam Houston

Western Kentucky

 

 

Hey, can you find room for West Florida in the East/South Division?

[SiouxHawkGuy]

7 minutes ago, zonadub said:

Playing the devil’s advocate here…

If G6 is the ultimate goal, why make the move at that cost? Other than the loss of NDSU (and probably St Thomas), why move out of MVFC/Summit to FCS G6 under the current setup? I know most will scoff at this, but NDSU’s real goal is probably Big 12, and they will probably advocate for SDSU (not UND) to join them in that move. If UND’s goal is to play as MAC West or CUSA North without a playoff, the possibility of any national titles other than hockey is no better than as FCS.

While living in Arizona, NDSU’s title run brought a lot of attention. When people found out we were from North Dakota, NDSU’s titles often came up. Not once was UND’s hockey program the topic, even when I was wearing a Brien logo’d cap with UND logo headcovers in my golf bag.

i was in the ‘don’t be left behind’ camp for years, but in the current environment with the ransoms being paid to move to G6, some real introspection will have to precede any move to a level that is really not above MVFC and the Big Sky.

 

now, here is my disclaimer… if the other Dakotas, the Montanas, Idaho and some of the other elite FCS programs go FBS as a group, then UND should, by all means, join them. That group would make MWC East/CUSA North/MAC West a formidable conference division.

The rest of the country knows college ball not college puck 

[NewUndFan]

4 hours ago, UNDfanguy said:

Please repost... I would like to see who possibly we could be playing in future for CUSA.  Also, Fenton is asleep at the wheel for Summit, and I am less and less impressed with UND AD Chaves... not proactive at all unless cutting sports.  

Less and Less? How is he even that far up?  I couldnt think any more less of him.  

[FSSD]

1 hour ago, GeauxSioux said:

Hey, can you find room for West Florida in the East/South Division?

It will be interesting to see how competitive they are against SIU in the first game.  Looks like a nice facility opening up in the Fall of 2027!!  Good Luck this year.

[SIOUXFAN97]

8 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

Top of Summit/MVFC becomes North division of CUSA or West division of MAC. 

or MAC adds ...

und, SDSU, Omaha, and St thomas

MAC sponsors varsity hockey with wmu, BGU, miami, mass with und Omaha and St Thomas...add Denver and ASU as affil.

 

[FSSD]

Just to add some context to some of the discussions on this topic.

DATA | Average Football Budgets 2026-2027 Members, Full Members Only

PAC-12 | $25,092,033

American | $20,219,659

MWC | $14,964,796

Sun Belt | $14,026,019

CUSA | $11,800,229

MAC | $11,713,774

I think UND’s football budget is around $7–8 million. One other note: the Sac State arrangement with the MAC is more of a 5-year scheduling alliance, not an affiliate membership with an indefinite timeline.

[Kab]

If you aren’t moving forward you are going backwards 

[SIOUXFAN97]

Minnesota State Mankato president breaks down cuts related to $22M budget deficit

st thomas's replacement aint doing so well...

where's geno taylor when you need him again...

[SIOUXFAN97]

love this guys posts!!!

ovc here we come!!!

[Goon]

According to Grok, St Thomas isn't planning on leaving the Summit, I know I am being sarcastic, but is there rumblings? 

[The Sicatoka]

UND would be wise to make quiet inquiries with similar regional schools and CUSA, the SBC, and the MAC. 

[gfhockey]

1 minute ago, The Sicatoka said:

UND would be wise to make quiet inquiries with similar regional schools and CUSA, the SBC, and the MAC. 

But that would be proactive

 

our stance is always say back roll up the sleeves think hypothetically 

[The Sicatoka]

24 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

But that would be proactive 

Touché.

[SIOUXFAN97]

41 minutes ago, Goon said:

According to Grok, St Thomas isn't planning on leaving the Summit, I know I am being sarcastic, but is there rumblings? 

dirty little secret of the midcon/summit league since it's inception.........everyone is trying to leave

[FSSD]

25 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

UND would be wise to make quiet inquiries with similar regional schools and CUSA, the SBC, and the MAC. 

I agree with this, but to UND’s credit they are continuing to invest in highly visible assets on campus to make UND a viable option:

Education: New aviation operations building and STEM Complex (Phases I and II). The university was also recently awarded R1 status.

Sports: Proposed updates to the golf course, working with the city to expand entertainment and housing options. They made the difficult decision to cut men’s and women’s tennis. The only programs that really still need facility help are the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center and soccer.

They are also in the process of creating a new campus master plan for the next round of updates.