I think the question should be how to make the MAC better.  Dumping EMU would be a start; they haven't been competitive in either football or basketball for several years.  They're there mostly to give the Western Div teams an easy win.  Buffalo at least brings a decent basketball program to the mix.  If Navy goes Big Least, then Army might be available.  The two have insisted that their annual game be the last regular season game played each year; that's why this year's game is on Dec. 10.  But they couldn't do that if they're both in the same 12-team conference because their regular season game could determine the outcome of the conference race but would be played the week after the conference championship game.  Army typically has 3 or 4 MAC schools on their schedule anyway; if they play 8 MAC games they would still be able to have their annual games with Navy, ND and AFA with a spot left over.  They would bring some bowl tie-ins with them and I think they have a TV deal with CBS's college sports channel.