CUSA kind of fleeced the MAC grabbing Delaware first. I hope they enjoy those trips to Texas and New Mexico. Holy Cross, Rhode Island and Albany seem to be the most ready to make a jump, but who knows what the temperature is at those schools. I don't like the idea of football only, but make a deal with UConn that promises some basketball games on the side.

Marshall isn't going anywhere as they have more in common with the Sun Belt schools than they do the MAC, which I'm sure will annoy people here, but it's true. The MAC screwed this all up originally trying to get WKU/MTSU when WKU/Marshall was the move.

Not likely. Certainly not into the MAC, if they did. They're a small, prestigious private school. Probably not eager to line-up next to Akron.

And it sounds like their feasibility study in 2011 didn't go well.

"Following the 2009 NCAA championship season, Villanova considered moving into FBS and joining the Big East Conference (Now AAC) in football. Villanova Stadium located on-campus stadium seats only 12,500, less than the 15,000 requirement for an FBS-eligible team. In September 2010, the Big East informally discussed the possibility that Villanova might become a football member. The school undertook a feasibility study involving the costs involved with such an upgrade. An upgrade of the football program would require building new football facilities and corresponding increases to its women's sports program due to Title IX issues, as well as a move to a larger game venue. Prior to the scheduled April 12, 2011, Board of Trustees vote on the football upgrade, several Big East football schools objected to the Villanova plans. With the ongoing uncertainty, the Villanova Board of Trustees has never voted regarding the topic of moving to FBS."

I think Youngstown State is still the most feasible and makes the most sense if we need to add another program, both basketball and football wise. Other than coming up with the cash to join FBS, travel costs would be low, they're a successful program. Facilities are already good.

Eastern Kentucky as well, though I wouldn't take them without Western.

Curious why you'd only want to target public schools? Is it because the MAC has always had public schools and it's a more peer-like institution? I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but it would be a little short-sighted to not at least have a conversation with a private school.

Who do you have in mind?

Prestigious private schools aren't likely to jump into G5 football unless it's some sort of financial windfall. And that doesn't appear to be in the cards for much of anyone in the G5, let alone the MAC.

Hypothetically, Dayton would likely be the only feasible option - and it would be football only. They're a basketball school. And a damn good one. It's unlikely they would shift resources into football.

I'm all for Youngstown St, lean into the Ohio core.

They're likely the only team we could add that wouldn't be a bottom dweller across the board. Often we're looking for who we can add to one sport, YSU we could take the whole university and - maybe just to me - I think thats valuable and important.

They would be a big addition in basketball, depending on how you view adding competition. They're certainly a Top 4-5 team right now, beat Toledo earlier this year, beat us the year before, likely they're one of the top teams right now.

Football has had some recent down years, but they did just put a starting RB into the NFL. They have good enough facilities, and are D1 in other programs. They have a fun history of success (I have a 90's national champions shirt I love wearing around Columbus). You got Tressel who still reps them hard. I often wonder why he didn't push for them to join the FBS... likely money is the issue. He spent a lot of good years trying to rebuild that campus, and its programs. I don't know if their situation has changed, but I think Youngstown is one of the very few that isn't just a pipedream, but could be a fairly easy transition reality. And wouldn't take any real extra work to accomplish.

Throw in baseball. They beat Akron a couple times last season. The womens basketball team won the conference last year or the year before.

Do I work in outreach for YSU? I think I should.

I know. We should hold Duke's feet to the fire. COME TO THE MAC OR PERISH. BREACH OF FUDICIARY DUTY.

Did they just join FBS? Was this gift because they won some football games? How is the incredible anomaly of 1 school receiving a large donation relevant?

I agree. Pathetic beyond belief. That you not only think these things, but type them out. No one is as consistently wrong about so much, so confidently as you. No one says so much without saying anything at all. Honestly, its impressive. It's damn near a super power.

Youngstown State fits within the existing MAC well. If you want to view that as an indictment on the MAC, fine. And if you want to believe Ohio is above the MAC, fine. But if we aren't getting the big conference invite you think we should, and the MAC is looking for a new member, YSU seems quite feasible.

I think we should reach out to UConn for football/some other sports along with a deal that the men’s and women’s basketball teams agree to play 3 MAC opponents a year, 1 being on the road. I would take that deal in a heartbeat.

As a 13th member? Who would be the 14th though? UConn was close to having the votes to joining the Big 12 last year and on the ACC shortlist so I don't think they'll bother with the MAC at this point.