UCONN basketball is a little busy these days, though you should definitely draw up a proposal for them on how they would go 17-0 in the MAC rather than 15-2 in the Big Least.

There are so many factors at play to see who would be the best

Eastern Kentucky - I say if WKU balks and the MAC still has an opening that EKU should be the next immediate call. They fit the profile and have the desire to move up. That probably kills any future chances you have at getting WKU, but you can spin that and turn it into some sort of rivalry if and when the time comes. The transition period up to FBS would be difficult, but the ease of travel and inroads into the South for the league would be a no-brainer.

There are so many factors at play to see who would be the best fit.

UConn - would be football only. If we told UMass no to that, I can't imagine the Huskies being a yes. This, to me, is the worst option.

Delaware - they're already planning to transition up to FBS via C-USA. If somehow, someway you could entice them to leave and join the MAC along with UMass to give them a travel partner, I wouldn't hate it. That one could get pretty costly though depending on what the lawyers decide.

Western Kentucky - Mutual interest between the two parties, fits the profile in both basketball and football and at a comparable level. Close enough for bus travel for a handful of schools. Immediate MACtion rivalry with Bowling Green. This one paired with UMass probably gives the MAC their best product to present to the networks, IMO.

North Dakota State - they'd be a top player in the MAC in football on Day 1, but that's a long way to travel for both parties. Combine the travel cost with transitioning up to FBS and factor in the MAC's current revenue, I'm not sure it's financially responsible or possible without adding other schools from that area (North Dakota, South Dakota, South Dakota State, or Northern Iowa).

Illinois State and Southern Illinois - Both have expressed interest in transitioning up and having Northern Illinois already in the league gives them a natural rival. Not sure how much either of these move the needle financially and like NDSU, you'd probably have to add more than just them and UMass.

Eastern Kentucky - I say if WKU balks and the MAC still has an opening that EKU should be the next immediate call. They fit the profile and have the desire to move up. That probably kills any future chances you have at getting WKU, but you can spin that and turn it into some sort of rivalry if and when the time comes. The transition period up to FBS would be difficult, but the ease of travel and inroads into the South for the league would be a no-brainer.

Temple - would they leave the AAC? I doubt it, but that league continues to morph into the former C-USA seemingly every minute. With the addition of Army West Point, I find it hard to believe that the Owls would come back to the MAC. The league still has a better overall football product than the MAC, but signing UMass does make it much more enticing to add two former A-10 basketball rivals.
[/QUOTE]I agree with most of this.

- NDSU would be a Top 2 (1?) team in the MAC from minute 1. We could possibly engage SD as well.

- YSU - I know everyone balks, every time. But they make the most sense, and would be the most seamless transition. Though if they wanted to play FBS football, I think Tressel would've led that charge.

- WKU I think most of us are surprised this hasn't already happened.


This sums up my thoughts:

[QUOTE=ohio9704]
Find all the dance partners you can in conference realignment.

If an FCS school wants to move up to FBS, the good news is that the old 15,000 rolling attendance requirement was done away with last fall.

https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2023/10/31/the-ncaa... .

Dang… I didn’t know about the transition fee for FCS——> FBS going from $5,000 to $5,000,000.

Duquesne is a member of the NEC for football, which means they offer 45 scholarships for football. In addition thereto their football stadium (Rooney Field) seats 2,200. Finally, to move from FCS to FBS they would now have to pay the $5,000,000.00 application fee. Given all of this I seriously doubt they would even consider an invite to join the MAC just to play football. They would have to add 40 additional scholarships, find another location and build an entirely new football stadium which would not be easy given that their campus is in downtown Pittsburgh, and then pay $5,000,000.00 for the application for FBS status.

This is an excellent analysis. Some of the locals (here) should see this

I'm surprised by a lot of these numbers.

Didn't expect OU to be 12/13 in athletic revenue.

Would be interested to dig into what we're not doing that others are. We often lead all sports in attendance. Are we not eating and drinking enough at the stadium? Eastern Michigan is bringing in nearly $6M more? Western Michigan and Buffalo are bringing in nearly $10M more? Miami similar.

2nd in donations. 2nd in licensing and ad revenue.

Where is EMU getting $6M more per year? Tee shirts?

Football numbers were surprising as well. I would not have guessed OU was 11/13 in coaching compensation. 7 teams spend at least $500K More than OU. Toledo spends over $1.5M more.