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Topic: Details of NIU Mountain West Deal
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colobobcat66
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Posted: 9/30/2025 11:31 AM
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It’s being reported that NIU will receive $34 million for the next 6 years-$5.7 million/year as well as $1.5 million to join and $2.5 million to pay the MAC exit fees .

I guess the extra money makes sense to me that they would do that. Now if the MW loses any more teams, who knows what it’s going to look like. And they get a vacation trip to Hawaii every two years. It will be interesting to see what this does to attendance at NIU which has been terrible. I’m doubting it increases much after an initial honeymoon period with San Jose State, Nevada and Wyoming , etc coming to town. Any guesses on how much more the road trips will cost?
Last Edited: 9/30/2025 12:09:42 PM by colobobcat66
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 9/30/2025 12:35 PM
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Yeah, hard to fault them for taking this.

For reference, the info I can find on the MAC's current TV deal is that it pays $8m per year -- to the entire conference. That's about ~600k per school. Very big step up for NIU.
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Posted: 9/30/2025 1:09 PM
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This number that NIU is receiving from the MWC I would treat this as a guaranteed payout. Regardless of where the next set of TV numbers arrive at for NIU the MWC has agreed to pay them 5.7 million. When the AAC expanded with 6 CUSA schools that guarantee was only 2.5 million but I believe they are earning in the neighborhood of 4 to 5 million. Good negotiating by NIU and timing when the MWC was desperate.
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Posted: 9/30/2025 1:26 PM
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The MWC overpaid. Someone please do the same for us.
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 9/30/2025 2:14 PM
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Figured it had to be pretty juicy, considering their travel costs are about to increase 10x. Looks like they can start carrying Louis.
IceCat76
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Posted: 9/30/2025 2:16 PM
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NIU now puts the MW in the Chicago (#3) tv market. That's something we can never do for any conference.
Last Edited: 9/30/2025 2:21:49 PM by IceCat76
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 9/30/2025 3:35 PM
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IceCat76 wrote:expand_more
NIU now puts the MW in the Chicago (#3) tv market. That's something we can never do for any conference.
Hardly anyone other than NIU alumns care about NIU in Chicago. That doesn't move the needle much.
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Posted: 9/30/2025 3:42 PM
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I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
Last Edited: 9/30/2025 3:42:58 PM by GoCats105
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 9/30/2025 3:49 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
I believe this a correct analysis. It's going to be a bad move for NIU. Not as bad as Albin's move to UNCC, but I suspect there are sick dogs in NIUs future.
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 9/30/2025 6:01 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
You don't think NIU has visibility into the financial status of the league, add agreed to a payout that was fully reliant on fees that are being challenged in court?

I find that very unlikely.
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Posted: 9/30/2025 6:15 PM
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
You don't think NIU has visibility into the financial status of the league, add agreed to a payout that was fully reliant on fees that are being challenged in court?

I find that very unlikely.
The fees and future valuation of the MWCs media deals could quite negatively adversely affect the remainder of the MWC. But like Boise St before NIU has a sweetheart deal with a larger guaranteed payout.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 9/30/2025 6:54 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
I believe this a correct analysis. It's going to be a bad move for NIU. Not as bad as Albin's move to UNCC, but I suspect there are sick dogs in NIUs future.
A lot can happen in 5 years and no one knows what the MAC will look like or even still exist as a FBS conference. Trading UMASS for NIU is a big step back in football.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 9/30/2025 6:57 PM
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TWT wrote:expand_more
I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
You don't think NIU has visibility into the financial status of the league, add agreed to a payout that was fully reliant on fees that are being challenged in court?

I find that very unlikely.
The fees and future valuation of the MWCs media deals could quite negatively adversely affect the remainder of the MWC. But like Boise St before NIU has a sweetheart deal with a larger guaranteed payout.

And as I remember reading, Air Force and UNLV have bigger cuts of the pie as well.
TWT
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Posted: 9/30/2025 8:16 PM
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colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
You don't think NIU has visibility into the financial status of the league, add agreed to a payout that was fully reliant on fees that are being challenged in court?

I find that very unlikely.
The fees and future valuation of the MWCs media deals could quite negatively adversely affect the remainder of the MWC. But like Boise St before NIU has a sweetheart deal with a larger guaranteed payout.

And as I remember reading, Air Force and UNLV have bigger cuts of the pie as well.
That is right. They made Hawaii join all sports. UTEP joined but will have a cut of a smaller pie whatever that ends up being.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 9/30/2025 8:59 PM
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colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
I believe this a correct analysis. It's going to be a bad move for NIU. Not as bad as Albin's move to UNCC, but I suspect there are sick dogs in NIUs future.
A lot can happen in 5 years and no one knows what the MAC will look like or even still exist as a FBS conference. Trading UMASS for NIU is a big step back in football.
I had the pleasure of attending an event last Friday at Baker where former president Rod McDavis spoke to students, faculty, staff and the community about OU's history and the future of higher ed. He was in town for the cornerstone ceremony for he new dorm on South Green, McDavis Hall. Two of the things he touched on in his speech was the importance of college athletics and his belief that there will be more divisions going forward. He also acknowledged the growing gap between the four large conferences and everyone else and the time in the future where they will be separate. The question now is when will that happen.
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Posted: 9/30/2025 10:13 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
NIU now puts the MW in the Chicago (#3) tv market. That's something we can never do for any conference.
Hardly anyone other than NIU alumns care about NIU in Chicago. That doesn't move the needle much.
Says you. Obviously it does for someone, same for Rutgers in the BIG10
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Posted: 9/30/2025 10:21 PM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
The MWC overpaid. Someone please do the same for us.
Does our value go up after winning a championship and the 3 year run we've had? Or does NIU's MAC title history and Orange Bowl appearance still outweigh what we've accomplished?
Last Edited: 9/30/2025 10:22:35 PM by ExCat21
TWT
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Posted: 10/1/2025 12:06 AM
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ExCat21 wrote:expand_more
The MWC overpaid. Someone please do the same for us.
Does our value go up after winning a championship and the 3 year run we've had? Or does NIU's MAC title history and Orange Bowl appearance still outweigh what we've accomplished?
There is something to be said for having the success in the portal/NIL era. NIU has a relative decline since that era and Ohio is reaching greater heights. They did have that huge win against Notre Dame last year. Ohio doesn't beat ranked teams when the opportunity is there. Ohio could roll through the MWC though its not a very strong conference. The golden rule of football is to compete in the strongest conference you can still win.
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Posted: 10/1/2025 1:41 AM
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NIU is a vastly over rated as a program. They got one upset of Notre Dame and have been mid level in the MAC recently. Not many impressive non-conference wins outside of the Notre Dame upset. MWC isn't going to change their recruiting. They don't have good attendance in the MAC. MWC isn't going to travel well to NIU either. They took advantage of a short term cash deal for the MWC. My guess is they go back to the MAC, CUSA or AAC in 5 years. Air Force or UNLV exit they are toast.
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Posted: 10/1/2025 2:41 AM
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oubobcatjohn wrote:expand_more
NIU is a vastly over rated as a program. They got one upset of Notre Dame and have been mid level in the MAC recently. Not many impressive non-conference wins outside of the Notre Dame upset. MWC isn't going to change their recruiting. They don't have good attendance in the MAC. MWC isn't going to travel well to NIU either. They took advantage of a short term cash deal for the MWC. My guess is they go back to the MAC, CUSA or AAC in 5 years. Air Force or UNLV exit they are toast.
+1 I am similarly pessimistic.
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 10/1/2025 9:42 AM
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oubobcatjohn wrote:expand_more
NIU is a vastly over rated as a program. They got one upset of Notre Dame and have been mid level in the MAC recently. Not many impressive non-conference wins outside of the Notre Dame upset. MWC isn't going to change their recruiting. They don't have good attendance in the MAC. MWC isn't going to travel well to NIU either. They took advantage of a short term cash deal for the MWC. My guess is they go back to the MAC, CUSA or AAC in 5 years. Air Force or UNLV exit they are toast.
A stat I came across, that explains my view of NIU:

The all-time series between NIU and Ball State is tied at 25–25.

Outside of the Notre Dame win, which was indeed pretty sweet, and led to them being ranked for a week or so before losing 4 of the next 6, NIU hasn't been all that relevant since that Jordan Lynch Heisman Campaign / Orange Bowl run.


Since the 2015 season;

NIU: 62 - 65
9+ win seasons: 1
Bowl Wins: 2

OU: 80 - 47
9+ win seasons: 5
Bowl Wins: 6


When you look through TV ratings, I dont think I saw a single NIU game (that didn't involve Notre Dame) in the top. You see a smattering of other MAC games, OU a couple times. Michigan, Notre Dame run Chicago. NIU is hardly a blip. I lived in Chicago for a few years, and the number of NIU fans I ran into you can count on one hand. I dont believe for a second west coast fans are gonna tune into NIU now, and certainly fans in Illinois aren't staying up to watch NIU play San Jose State. Get your money though. They've been in the red for a while. Hopefully they can turn it around - unlike Rutgers who didn't turn a single profit in the first 10 years in the Big 10. https://www.nj.com/rutgers/2022/11/scarlet-knights-might-...
GoCats105
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Posted: 10/1/2025 10:40 AM
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TWT wrote:expand_more
I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
You don't think NIU has visibility into the financial status of the league, add agreed to a payout that was fully reliant on fees that are being challenged in court?

I find that very unlikely.
The fees and future valuation of the MWCs media deals could quite negatively adversely affect the remainder of the MWC. But like Boise St before NIU has a sweetheart deal with a larger guaranteed payout.
I have to imagine schools like Wyoming, Nevada or New Mexico are pretty pissed off that the new school on the block is getting paid more annually than they are.
GoCats105
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Posted: 10/1/2025 10:45 AM
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Latest on the PAC/MWC fight in court.

https://www.si.com/college/boise-state/football/mountain-...

"The MWC argues it is owed north of $150 million in poaching penalties and exit fees."

That seems like A LOT of money to be banking on.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/1/2025 11:18 AM
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
I wonder how much of NIU's deal (and UNLV's too) is relying on the exit fees from the schools that left for the PAC 12. Those fees are still tied up in court and from what I've heard and read, it's not going in the MWC's favor. If the MWC loses that case, or at the very least doesn't get the amount they thought they were going to get, the whole conference might be in serious financial trouble. Their product got indefinitely worse once they lost Boise and the other schools.

So short term, this is great for NIU. But long term in 5 years or so down the road, it's going to look real silly.
You don't think NIU has visibility into the financial status of the league, add agreed to a payout that was fully reliant on fees that are being challenged in court?

I find that very unlikely.
Companies with higher paid lawyers than NIU could ever afford make bad deals all the time. I don't think it's that unlikely from what we know now and from NIU's track record of conference hoping that in five years they'll regret this move.
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Posted: 10/1/2025 3:35 PM
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Just saw that NIU has joined the PAC12 for wrestling in 26/27.
Last Edited: 10/1/2025 3:36:52 PM by rpbobcat
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