Except according to reports, NDSU aren't being courted to go to the MVC.

Depends who they replace them with and how they perform in the future. On the surface what you say is true - but they still have a higher national perception than the MAC with a significantly higher chance for at-large bids.

Not to mention, their budgets are bigger, they're still getting a lot more NCAA money per year, coaches are paid higher etc.

Any team that makes the jump from Summit (or similar) to MVC is going to see a bump in their revenue by joining that league which outpaces the MAC - same way a Creighton or Butler got a bump when jumping to Big East.

The question, as I started with, is what they do with it. Do they use it to pay their coaches, recruit better athletes and improve their program? They should. If that's the path - then yes Saul could have stayed where he was and might have ended up not only in the MVC but even getting a bigger pay day.

All hypothetical at this point. Just found it interesting.

Tell that to 2016 Monmouth (only the most recent of a number of egregious mid-major snubs).

I agree with others that I highly value close geographic proximity. Not only does it work for fans & teams logistically, but the rivalries and buzz is easier to create and maintain. This is why I have long yearned for a conference with the 6 Ohio MAC schools plus Wright State, Dayton, Xavier & Cleveland State. Now THAT would be fun.