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Topic: SBC rumor
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GoCats105
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Posted: 7/9/2025 6:45 PM
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TWT wrote:expand_more
This was an important quote I found interesting.

"These initial talks may be more about establishing relationships for the future than a current move considering the potential for a massive realignment across college sports before 2031."
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Posted: 7/9/2025 7:48 PM
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As much as it would suck to see the MAC shrivel up, I value Ohio Athletics more than I do staying in the conference. With the TV deal coming up soon, there’s no way the conference will get even what they have now. I have a sinking feeling that the MAC will be FCS within a decade.

Best to be one of the first out than the last. See Oregon State, Wazzu.
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Posted: 7/9/2025 7:55 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Ohio in preliminary talks with SBC.

https://www.dnronline.com/sports/college/sun-belt-leaders...
This was an important quote I found interesting.

"These initial talks may be more about establishing relationships for the future than a current move considering the potential for a massive realignment across college sports before 2031."
What happened to Ohio and Fiami being "joined at the hip" as one person called it in this thread? If we go, they go too? Could Ohio and Fiami go separate ways?
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Posted: 7/9/2025 8:38 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
One of the biggest problems with realignment is finding enough like-minded institutions willing to spend money on athletics. The Sun Belt was very meticulous in who they added the first go round and also their deal with ESPN: (1) bus travel league for the most part (2) schools that are willing to invest more into football and actually cared to do so and (3) wanting to keep playing more games on Saturdays to drive fan attendance.

I'm not sure if Ohio fits into that. And I'm not sure our academic leaders would approve the move solely for athletics.
For years I’ve seen people talk about academics being tied to athletic conferences, but I have no idea how this works in practice. Genuinely curious if this even matters in any meaningful way? Like, is there anything anyone can point to academically between schools that could not still happen if we weren’t in the same conference?
You can look at the PAC 12's demise for an example. Stanford, Cal and Washington refused to be in the same conference with the likes of Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State simply because they didn't fit the academic profile. They quite literally would have rather seen their own conference die. There were obviously other factors that played into that, but the PAC 12 had chances to expand and they just didn't.

The Big Ten has stated for years that they would only target schools that fit their type of institutional profile. Probably why they went as far west for UCLA and Washington, but hasn't thought twice about a school like West Virginia in its own backyard. You could argue the biggest target on everyone's radar right now is North Carolina. They fit the academic profile for the Big Ten, but it's right on the border of the SEC who also wants them.
This answer is exactly what I’m talking about. Why does it matter what the other school’s academic profile is like in an athletic conference? What does school A benefit from school B in the conference having good academics? Just the vanity and self opinion boost of being associated with a more prestigious school?
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Posted: 7/9/2025 9:35 PM
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cbarber357 wrote:expand_more
One of the biggest problems with realignment is finding enough like-minded institutions willing to spend money on athletics. The Sun Belt was very meticulous in who they added the first go round and also their deal with ESPN: (1) bus travel league for the most part (2) schools that are willing to invest more into football and actually cared to do so and (3) wanting to keep playing more games on Saturdays to drive fan attendance.

I'm not sure if Ohio fits into that. And I'm not sure our academic leaders would approve the move solely for athletics.
For years I’ve seen people talk about academics being tied to athletic conferences, but I have no idea how this works in practice. Genuinely curious if this even matters in any meaningful way? Like, is there anything anyone can point to academically between schools that could not still happen if we weren’t in the same conference?
You can look at the PAC 12's demise for an example. Stanford, Cal and Washington refused to be in the same conference with the likes of Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State simply because they didn't fit the academic profile. They quite literally would have rather seen their own conference die. There were obviously other factors that played into that, but the PAC 12 had chances to expand and they just didn't.

The Big Ten has stated for years that they would only target schools that fit their type of institutional profile. Probably why they went as far west for UCLA and Washington, but hasn't thought twice about a school like West Virginia in its own backyard. You could argue the biggest target on everyone's radar right now is North Carolina. They fit the academic profile for the Big Ten, but it's right on the border of the SEC who also wants them.
This answer is exactly what I’m talking about. Why does it matter what the other school’s academic profile is like in an athletic conference? What does school A benefit from school B in the conference having good academics? Just the vanity and self opinion boost of being associated with a more prestigious school?

Frankly I can see some advantages in being on the high side academically .
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Posted: 7/9/2025 9:47 PM
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I did a quick check and MAC played 38 weeknight games versus 11 weeknight games for the SBC in 2024. Correct me if I am wrong.
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Posted: 7/9/2025 9:50 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
I would think that after a honeymoon period attendance-wise in a new league, that attendance would not be greatly helped in the SBC. I don’t think you can dismiss travel costs as insignificant. Getting rid of midweek games would be okay with me, I haven’t been a fan since pretty much all games are on cable etc now. I know that’s been discussed forever, and some are on board,that’s okay. Leaving without a few of our long time rivals would seem very strange to me.
Still important to note that the Sun Belt does weeknight games, but they're mostly in October and there aren't as many as the MAC has in November.
So true, but the amount of weeknight games are vastly different.
I did a quick check and MAC played 38 weeknight games versus 11 weeknight games for the SBC in 2024. Correct me if I am wrong.
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Posted: 7/9/2025 9:58 PM
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Flat Tire wrote:expand_more
I did a quick check and MAC played 38 weeknight games versus 11 weeknight games for the SBC in 2024. Correct me if I am wrong.
Interesting comparison. More interesting to me would be a look at how many of these MAC weeknight games end up on ESPN+ (too many) v. ESPN2 and a similar look at SBC weeknight games.
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Posted: 7/9/2025 10:08 PM
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colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
One of the biggest problems with realignment is finding enough like-minded institutions willing to spend money on athletics. The Sun Belt was very meticulous in who they added the first go round and also their deal with ESPN: (1) bus travel league for the most part (2) schools that are willing to invest more into football and actually cared to do so and (3) wanting to keep playing more games on Saturdays to drive fan attendance.

I'm not sure if Ohio fits into that. And I'm not sure our academic leaders would approve the move solely for athletics.
For years I’ve seen people talk about academics being tied to athletic conferences, but I have no idea how this works in practice. Genuinely curious if this even matters in any meaningful way? Like, is there anything anyone can point to academically between schools that could not still happen if we weren’t in the same conference?
You can look at the PAC 12's demise for an example. Stanford, Cal and Washington refused to be in the same conference with the likes of Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State simply because they didn't fit the academic profile. They quite literally would have rather seen their own conference die. There were obviously other factors that played into that, but the PAC 12 had chances to expand and they just didn't.

The Big Ten has stated for years that they would only target schools that fit their type of institutional profile. Probably why they went as far west for UCLA and Washington, but hasn't thought twice about a school like West Virginia in its own backyard. You could argue the biggest target on everyone's radar right now is North Carolina. They fit the academic profile for the Big Ten, but it's right on the border of the SEC who also wants them.
This answer is exactly what I’m talking about. Why does it matter what the other school’s academic profile is like in an athletic conference? What does school A benefit from school B in the conference having good academics? Just the vanity and self opinion boost of being associated with a more prestigious school?

Frankly I can see some advantages in being on the high side academically .
If I’m reading what you’re saying correctly, same.

School A and School B are recruiting you. They’re in the same conference so same profile, but school A has far superior academics. I’m choosing school A if those are my only considerations.
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Posted: 7/9/2025 10:13 PM
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bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
I did a quick check and MAC played 38 weeknight games versus 11 weeknight games for the SBC in 2024. Correct me if I am wrong.
Interesting comparison. More interesting to me would be a look at how many of these MAC weeknight games end up on ESPN+ (too many) v. ESPN2 and a similar look at SBC weeknight games.

Typically, the MAC Weeknight games that ESPN doesn't want get subleased to CBS Sports Network.
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Posted: 7/9/2025 10:19 PM
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colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
I would think that after a honeymoon period attendance-wise in a new league, that attendance would not be greatly helped in the SBC. I don’t think you can dismiss travel costs as insignificant. Getting rid of midweek games would be okay with me, I haven’t been a fan since pretty much all games are on cable etc now. I know that’s been discussed forever, and some are on board,that’s okay. Leaving without a few of our long time rivals would seem very strange to me.
If this is true, I think it has more to do with folks not having faith that the MAC can survive the future of NCAA football. It makes one wonder why they believe the Sun Belt will fare better!?
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Posted: 7/10/2025 6:15 AM
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Well, I guess the rumor had some legs.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 7:08 AM
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greencat wrote:expand_more
Ohio in preliminary talks with SBC.

https://www.dnronline.com/sports/college/sun-belt-leaders...
This was an important quote I found interesting.

"These initial talks may be more about establishing relationships for the future than a current move considering the potential for a massive realignment across college sports before 2031."
What happened to Ohio and Fiami being "joined at the hip" as one person called it in this thread? If we go, they go too? Could Ohio and Fiami go separate ways?
I stand by this. If Ohio is indeed reaching out to SBC, I can only believe that it is intended as a shot across the bow for our commissioner and a few other MAC presidents.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 8:24 AM
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The Sun Belt as it currently stands has possibly three bus trips for Ohio. Huntington, Harrisonburg and Boone, NC. The travel expenses would increase by a huge amount.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 9:41 AM
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cbarber357 wrote:expand_more
[This answer is exactly what I’m talking about. Why does it matter what the other school’s academic profile is like in an athletic conference? What does school A benefit from school B in the conference having good academics? Just the vanity and self opinion boost of being associated with a more prestigious school?
No one has cared about “academic profiles” since the early 2010s realignments. Big Ten fans clutched their pearls that Nebraska wasn’t in the AAU, and then when they got lit up by the SEC after that, that’s the last anyone cared..


Chris Galloway wrote:expand_more
First, the Ohio legislature would not care at all if Ohio left for the SBC.

We aren’t Ohio State, therefore they couldn’t care less.
It’s also not their business to mingle in regardless, but there’s a zero percent chance they would.
Last Edited: 7/10/2025 9:54:25 AM by ts1227
Kevin Finnegan
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Posted: 7/10/2025 11:10 AM
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I really like having our name out there as a possible conference move. I think it brings attention to us athletically and also maybe lights a fire under MAC leadership. You can write off losing NIU as a one-off for a school that didn't have a conference partner in the state. But possibly losing OHIO? That's big for all sports in the conference. I think it says to the MAC, you better do something to help our conference or you're likely to see it crumble. I don't think NIU was a linchpin, but I think we are. If we are honestly looking at leaving, that'll speed up conversations with Miami and Toledo as well.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 11:31 AM
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I've seen some speculation on the interwebs that The Mouse may be behind this potential move and some other conference realignment chess games currently being considered behind closed doors. I must admit that this has me nervous as I don't trust The Mouse.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 11:39 AM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
I've seen some speculation on the interwebs that The Mouse may be behind this potential move and some other conference realignment chess games currently being considered behind closed doors. I must admit that this has me nervous as I don't trust The Mouse.
This isn't new. ABC and FOX orchestrated SEC and Big Ten expansion, and ESPN quite literally bribed Colorado to leaving the PAC 12 for the Big 12. The networks rule college football and it's awful.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 11:42 AM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
I've seen some speculation on the interwebs that The Mouse may be behind this potential move and some other conference realignment chess games currently being considered behind closed doors. I must admit that this has me nervous as I don't trust The Mouse.
Are you suggesting that Disney thinks highly enough of us to orchestrate moving us to the Sun Belt?

I’m skeptical about that, but if true I would see this as a good sign for us, bad sign for the MAC.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 11:54 AM
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Kevin Finnegan wrote:expand_more
I really like having our name out there as a possible conference move. I think it brings attention to us athletically and also maybe lights a fire under MAC leadership. You can write off losing NIU as a one-off for a school that didn't have a conference partner in the state. But possibly losing OHIO? That's big for all sports in the conference. I think it says to the MAC, you better do something to help our conference or you're likely to see it crumble. I don't think NIU was a linchpin, but I think we are. If we are honestly looking at leaving, that'll speed up conversations with Miami and Toledo as well.
Agreed
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Posted: 7/10/2025 11:55 AM
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Kevin Finnegan wrote:expand_more
I really like having our name out there as a possible conference move. I think it brings attention to us athletically and also maybe lights a fire under MAC leadership. You can write off losing NIU as a one-off for a school that didn't have a conference partner in the state. But possibly losing OHIO? That's big for all sports in the conference. I think it says to the MAC, you better do something to help our conference or you're likely to see it crumble. I don't think NIU was a linchpin, but I think we are. If we are honestly looking at leaving, that'll speed up conversations with Miami and Toledo as well.
I was advised by a BOT member that this rumor is right up there with "Dewey Defeats Truman."
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Posted: 7/10/2025 12:05 PM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
I really like having our name out there as a possible conference move. I think it brings attention to us athletically and also maybe lights a fire under MAC leadership. You can write off losing NIU as a one-off for a school that didn't have a conference partner in the state. But possibly losing OHIO? That's big for all sports in the conference. I think it says to the MAC, you better do something to help our conference or you're likely to see it crumble. I don't think NIU was a linchpin, but I think we are. If we are honestly looking at leaving, that'll speed up conversations with Miami and Toledo as well.
I was advised by a BOT member that this rumor is right up there with "Dewey Defeats Truman."
Perhaps you are right, because you shouldn't always believe what you read in the newspapers, but the Cowtown Disgrace has a story about it this morning. It does say discussions are very preliminary, but acknowledges that the discussion are taking place.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 12:05 PM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
I really like having our name out there as a possible conference move. I think it brings attention to us athletically and also maybe lights a fire under MAC leadership. You can write off losing NIU as a one-off for a school that didn't have a conference partner in the state. But possibly losing OHIO? That's big for all sports in the conference. I think it says to the MAC, you better do something to help our conference or you're likely to see it crumble. I don't think NIU was a linchpin, but I think we are. If we are honestly looking at leaving, that'll speed up conversations with Miami and Toledo as well.
I was advised by a BOT member that this rumor is right up there with "Dewey Defeats Truman."
This may be true, but I hope we do not come out and deny the story or the contact. Let the speculation continue to be out there. I can't see how it hurts us short- or long-term. Keep some people talking about us (that was great for Texas State) and let the MAC sweat right now. I feel like the conference has just assumed that while everything else around us is happening, our conference was safe sitting still. You can't sit still in this environment. The only constant is change, so we are best taking the lead right now. The MAC appears without direction from afar and I love that we may force its hand.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 12:17 PM
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I don't disagree.
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Posted: 7/10/2025 12:27 PM
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Yes, the esteemed reporter Rob Oller, who did not reach out to an Ohio University representative for comment and who identified the newspaper as being in Harrisburg rather than Harrisonburg, VA.

That's some elite journalism right there.
Last Edited: 7/10/2025 12:40:18 PM by SBH
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