One is obvious. A school like Austin Peay also has different motivations for FBS. They likely aren't expecting to be competing for the 12th playoff spot so they would be ok with a conference like CUSA. For the Bison (at least many of the fans) that is the main motivation. If the Bison move up and only play well enough to get a bowl game, many fans will be disappointed. Will they perceive the regular season schedule as better? A school like AP will be very happy with their improved regular season schedule and ecstatic for any bowl game. It also may give them a better perception as a university compared to other nearby universities. In Indiana, Ball State has a better perception as a university than Indiana State and FBS compared to FCS in football is a contributor. Since there are no G5 schools anywhere near Fargo, that won't change the perception for regional students.
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I learned last night NM State added an extra game today against Valpo so they can get bowl eligible. Not sure if they had a game canceled or just a missing game. It's game 12 for Valpo as well. Not sure if they had to get approval to do that. I can't imagine they get a great bowl but it shows there is value in bowl games for the FBS teams. Even if it is just to say they were in a bowl game.
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NMSU has not been to a bowl for something like 60 years. Assuming they beat Pioneer league Valpo, they will have 2 FCS wins, and 4 wins over very weak FBS teams. This requires a waiver to be granted, but its almost automatic when espn wants it.
What I saw elsewhere was they were already granted the waiver at 5-6, but they scheduled Valpo because they wanted an easy win with a home game to honor their seniors. The waiver let them step in front of other P5 teams that are 5-7. Normally they would fill the last slots with 5-7 teams going in order of the teams APR/GPA when there are not enough eligible teams
They are going to a bowl because ESPN feels sorry for them.
Instead of hoping for a spot in the MWC or AAC, lets create one in the CUSA and stop underestimating this programs ability to make a name for ourselves.
If we lost a single game in that conference, our name would be mud.
That conference is basically FCS teams now, and not very good ones.
I have seen some random talk about people wanting to kick them out of the CFP system entirely when the contract gets renewed in two years.
Not likely to happen, but shows just how bad the reputation is now.
SJSU cancelled their game with NMSU after a player died. They weren't able to find a replacement date. I think NMSU got a waiver to go bowling at 5-6 with a cancelled game, then another to schedule Valpo to have a Senior Day.
Maybe Indy can explain what would have happened if SJSU would have been recorded as a forfeit instead of cancelled. I understand why they didn't.
MAC championship on ESPN today.
Not that many fans for a championship, but it is entertaining and high energy.