Conference Realignments - Take 2

[FSSD]

55 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Missed this rumor: Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky are claimed going to the MAC. 

That would kick C-USA down to three (FIU, LaTech, UTEP). C-USA would need the four (Liberty, NMSU, SHSU, Jacksonville State) just to maintain a pulse. 

 

Under that (C-USA 3 + 4) scenario, C-USA almost has to figure out how to get back to a viable number. A northern branch of seven or so to make 14 in the conference would get C-USA off life support. 

The MAC is really throwing these two a lifeline.  Because they don't really fit the academic profile of the other MAC schools.

- This moves MAC south into two markets that are actually growing.  Most of the MAC schools are located in smaller communities and the schools that are in larger metros have a slow growth profile (Kalamazoo and Buffalo are the only positive growth areas in the MAC).  So, this a major positive for the MAC.

- Neither MTSU or WKU are research schools - all other MAC schools are R2 minimum.  So, these schools are out of alignment on the research profile.

I really didn't see the MAC doing much during this round of change.  The AAC pulled in questionable schools from a historical athletic profile.  But, really concentrated on large metro areas with schools that had R1 (Rice, UAB, UNT)/R2 (FAU, UNCC, UTSA) research profile.

[SIOUXFAN97]

29 minutes ago, FSSD said:

The MAC is really throwing these two a lifeline.  Because they don't really fit the academic profile of the other MAC schools.

- This moves MAC south into two markets that are actually growing.  Most of the MAC schools are located in smaller communities and the schools that are in larger metros have a slow growth profile (Kalamazoo and Buffalo are the only positive growth areas in the MAC).  So, this a major positive for the MAC.

- Neither MTSU or WKU are research schools - all other MAC schools are R2 minimum.  So, these schools are out of alignment on the research profile.

I really didn't see the MAC doing much during this round of change.  The AAC pulled in questionable schools from a historical athletic profile.  But, really concentrated on large metro areas with schools that had R1 (Rice, UAB, UNT)/R2 (FAU, UNCC, UTSA) research profile.

i also find the adds of wku and mtsu to the MAC weird....just doesn't pass the eye test....

[The Sicatoka]

14 minutes ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

i also find the adds of wku and mtsu to the MAC weird....just doesn't pass the eye test....

People are moving south out of the old "rust belt". Those areas of KY and TN are getting a lot of those transplants. 

[SIOUXFAN97]

3 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

People are moving south out of the old "rust belt". Those areas of KY and TN are getting a lot of those transplants. 

agreed...just weird bc the MAC seems to be stuck in a timewarp...change never really happens with them....nice gets but just weird

[The Sicatoka]

23 minutes ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

agreed...just weird bc the MAC seems to be stuck in a timewarp...change never really happens with them....nice gets but just weird

Money (new FBS TV deal and expanded FBS playoff all coming in 2025) makes schools and conferences do curious things. 

[The Sicatoka]

SiouxVolley (RIP) thought the path to FBS would go through the WAC trying to reestablish as an FBS conference. 

Seems a WAC member (albeit a newbie one) doesn't believe an FBS WAC will happen and that's why they took the C-USA offer as the path to FBS:

Quote

On Sam Houston’s press conference, president Alisa White says the WAC’s hopes to become an FBS conference may not happen because of a coming solidification of FBS with NCAA governance changes, so Sam Houston had to make this C-USA move now.

 

[northernraider]

Sam Houston and Jacksonville State officially going the CUSA.  One day schools will realize going "FBS" isn't not always greener on the other side. 

Why try to win an actual Championship, when you can play on a Tuesday night in December in Mobile and lose money doing it. 

[zonadub]

Middle Tennessee is staying in C-USA.

Western Kentucky - you’re up

[The Sicatoka]

14 minutes ago, zonadub said:

Middle Tennessee is staying in C-USA.

Western Kentucky - you’re up

I suspect the MAC invite was both or neither. 

[zonadub]

21 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

I suspect the MAC invite was both or neither. 

C-USA stable at 9 then?

 

WAC loses 2 - NMSU & Sam Houston. Will they go after more Texas schools now?

[The Sicatoka]

10 minutes ago, zonadub said:

C-USA stable at 9 then?

Whispers of Missouri State and/or UT-Chattanooga abound ... 

[The Sicatoka]

14 minutes ago, zonadub said:

WAC loses 2 - NMSU & Sam Houston. Will they go after more Texas schools now?

Say you are the grand old place of higher ed-juh-muh-kay-shun, "Whazamattah U," ... and the WAC calls ... and you know NMSU, SHSU, and McNeese State have all bailed on the WAC, you jumping in with both feet? 

[zonadub]

8 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Say you are the grand old place of higher ed-juh-muh-kay-shun, "Whazamattah U," ... and the WAC calls ... and you know NMSU, SHSU, and McNeese State have all bailed on the WAC, you jumping in with both feet? 

Not to mention Denver, UMKC. Who’d-a-thunk the Summit would be more stable than the WAC?

[northernraider]

2 hours ago, zonadub said:

Middle Tennessee is staying in C-USA.

Western Kentucky - you’re up

I went to undergrad at MTSU and the few of us fans that care are not happy about staying. C-USA is basically FCS 1.5  not there is anything wrong with FCS. However, it is basically saying we want to be FBS without doing FBS type of things. The entire CUSA should do a WAC and become FCS. 

[Sioux>Bison]

5 hours ago, zonadub said:

C-USA stable at 9 then?

 

WAC loses 2 - NMSU & Sam Houston. Will they go after more Texas schools now?

Nope all of the Texas schools that had future ambitions have jumped ship to try and join the CUSA. The WAC may try to add schools but not the ones who have FBS ambitions 

[zonadub]

On 11/10/2021 at 10:19 AM, The Sicatoka said:

Say you are the grand old place of higher ed-juh-muh-kay-shun, "Whazamattah U," ... and the WAC calls ... and you know NMSU, SHSU, and McNeese State have all bailed on the WAC, you jumping in with both feet? 

Rocky & Bullwinkle reference… Wossamotta U. 
 

[SWSiouxMN]

 

[Yote 53]

UMKC is a dog.  The MVC is literally taking the Summit leftovers.  First they sniffed around Omaha, now Kansas City.  This isn't your parent's MVC anymore.  That conference has fallen pretty hard.

Summit should strike first and invite UNI to the conference.  Heck, we should just approach all the Valley Football schools and start a new conference of state schools and move it en masse to FBS.

[homer]

5 minutes ago, Yote 53 said:

UMKC is a dog.  The MVC is literally taking the Summit leftovers.  First they sniffed around Omaha, now Kansas City.  This isn't your parent's MVC anymore.  That conference has fallen pretty hard.

Summit should strike first and invite UNI to the conference.  Heck, we should just approach all the Valley Football schools and start a new conference of state schools and move it en masse to FBS.

Let NDSU join the MAC first and than send them independent for non football sports.  

[JohnboyND7]

9 minutes ago, Yote 53 said:

UMKC is a dog.  The MVC is literally taking the Summit leftovers.  First they sniffed around Omaha, now Kansas City.  This isn't your parent's MVC anymore.  That conference has fallen pretty hard.

Summit should strike first and invite UNI to the conference.  Heck, we should just approach all the Valley Football schools and start a new conference of state schools and move it en masse to FBS.

You know who else was dog? Loyola... and then they ended up being good lmaooo

[zonadub]

Murray and Kansas City are within the MVC footprint, but Arlington is quite a bit outside. Would they go after Oral Roberts then too, to link the geography?

[gfhockey]

9 minutes ago, zonadub said:

Murray and Kansas City are within the MVC footprint, but Arlington is quite a bit outside. Would they go after Oral Roberts then too, to link the geography?

Ndsu mad they aren’t getting invite

[Yote 53]

20 minutes ago, JohnboyND7 said:

You know who else was dog? Loyola... and then they ended up being good lmaooo

And how many times is that going to repeat itself?

Loyola actually had some history, they had just been down for a while.  UMKC has no history and has never been good. 

[FSSD]

Overall I would like the Summit League to push the budgets more toward $2.5 million.  This would move them more toward the middle of the pack.  Here is a list of conference Avg Budget and current NCAA tournament credits.

	Conference	Avg Budgets	Credits
P-6	ACC	$11.70	100
P-6	SEC	$10.70	71
P-6	Big XII	$10.50	82
P-6	Big East	$10.00	54
P-6	Big 10	$9.90	82
P-6	Pac 12	$8.50	55
High Major	American	$6.50	25
High Major	Atlantic-10	$5.00	19
High Major	WCC	$4.90	27
High Major	MWC	$4.20	11
High Major	C-USA	$3.00	10
High Major	MVC	$2.90	18
High Major	Colonial	$2.90	6
Mid-Major	Big West	$2.60	9
Mid-Major	MAC	$2.50	9
Mid-Major	MAAC	$2.50	6
Mid-Major	WAC	$2.50	6
Mid-Major	Horizon	$2.30	6
Mid-Major	Patriot	$2.20	7
Mid-Major	Sun Belt	$2.10	7
Low-Major	America East	$2.00	9
Low-Major	A-Sun	$2.00	8
Low-Major	OVC	$1.80	9
Low-Major	Summit	$1.80	9
Low-Major	Southern	$1.80	7
Low-Major	Big Sky	$1.80	6
Low-Major	NEC	$1.70	8
Low-Major	Big South	$1.60	7
Low	Ivy	$1.40	6
Low	Southland	$1.30	8
Low	MEAC	$1.20	7
Low	SWAC	$1.00	8

[FSSD]

And you can see that KC budget is more in line with MVC than TSL.  NOTE:  Mills have a new contract - I can't find an updated value and STU has D-III numbers.  But, I am sure that has changed a great deal.  But, I would like to see everyone push toward the $2.5 million area.  USD, Omaha and WIU have some work to do.

Budget (mil)	School	Coach Pay	Coach
2.53	Denver	$180,000 - $200,000	Wulbrun
2.25	Kansas City	$350,000	Donlon
2.18	SDSU	$275,000	Hendo
2.09	ORU	$199,082*	Mills
1.94	UND	$180,000	Sather
1.72	NDSU	$230,000	Richman
1.47	USD	$265,000	Lee
1.26	Omaha	$180,353	Hansen
1.19	WIU	$132,500	Wright
$257,302	STU		Tauer