The sad truth is, that in 5 years the MAC will be exactly where it is now. It'll be a low-level FBS conference that plays in low-level bowl games, and if/when there is a playoff structure added to FBS, MAC teams will have to go undefeated in order to be considered for an at large spot, if such a thing exists.
I agree with others here that there wont be an official "mid-level" division created between FBS and FCS, but in essence, that's what the MAC already is, and that's what it will continue to be. MAC teams aren't actually eligible for the FBS National Championship, and even if a playoff structure is added, they still wont be. So, like I said, in essence, we're already in that fictional mid-level division. And what do we get out of it, exactly? Higher operating costs. Hell of a deal.
So my answer is: The MAC will be exactly where it is now.
But what we should be doing, is dropping a division and looking to replace UMASS in the CAA. After UMASS leaves, it's been pretty well speculated that the remaining Northeastern CAA teams will look to join the NEC, meaning that UNH, URI, and Maine will also be leaving the CAA. If the CAA slotted us into UMASS's spot, and then sought to add schools like Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Duquesne (for geographic purposes) we'd then be in the dominant FCS conference and regularly competing for a national title in a conference full of schools that match us better academically. Ask yourself: would you rather be associated with Akron, Eastern Michigan, and Toledo? Or William & Mary, Richmond, and Villanova? Academically, there's simply no question that a drop to the CAA would be a better fit. And the added benefit, is that our football program wouldn't be playing in a system in which the success we have isn't adequately rewarded. I, for one, think seeing an FCS Football National Championship banner hanging in the Convo would instill far more student pride than maybe winning the whatever sucker marketing department sponsored the Detroit bowl game from time to time.
Or, we can keep pretending that we're gonna end up in C-USA or the Big East. We have two options: sit here until we're inevitable the last kid picked for the big kids dodgeball game, or pick up the ball and start our own game, by our own rules.