The real issue right now is that I feel the pressure to not add anymore FCS schools is real, obviously if a conference needs to go that route they do but it is looking like a last resort type of thing. The MWC is literally exhausting all of their FBS options. They are now down to getting Hawaii to join for all-sports, which is a very expensive endeavor for both Hawaii and the rest of the MWC.
NDSU to the FBS always. In all ways.
This is a legitimate worry, along with the whole media market BS thing that seems to want to ignore MSP
But just so people have perspective on TSU and their "ambitions", UMN-Duluth has an order-of-magnitude larger research footprint in chemistry than Tarelton (based on the American Chemical Society’s website), and NDSU dwarfs UMN-Duluth
You may be right on this, but even that comes down to money.
IF what we are seeing is the result of SEC and/or B1G doing some arm twisting to not add FCS schools, that pressure/leverage is all about access to the CFP and those earnings. It is quite possible that is in play.
FBS movement is almost 100% of the time about what benefits the existing schools and conferences economically first. They aren't going to add a FCS team merely on the basis of competition, or even fanbase size. Where we land will depend on the cascade of moves triggered by financial calculations. If there is a conference move where adding NDSU benefits that conference the most economically, and NDSU also, then it is likely to happen.
I think one thing people keep overlooking with Texas schools, and Tarleton in particular is the huge subsidies they receive via the Texas A&M system money, which comes from oil revenues. Tarleton effectively has a very rich papa feeding their growth and new facilities, along with a population boom in Texas. Its a quickly growing school, and people are looking at the trajectory there.
Essentially - Tarleton is being valued like a very high growth startup, and conferences are looking at the growth potential and giving it a high value. The P/E valuation is inflated, just like unprofitable but rapidly growing startups are.
In some ways I would say/agree its stupid, and the Texas market seems way overinflated. But I do see why they are getting a lot of buzz. Tarleton is on a path to quickly pass SHSU (already have really) and some of the other texas schools.
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Not sure if already posted ... looking like MW and Hawaii exploring possibility of Hawaii going all sports in MW.
That would bring MW to 8 and stabilize it, and they could then evaluate what comes next.
https://x.com/brett_mcmurphy/status/...HQPKWSmnUDKjxg
Money.
None of the G5 are profitable, they live off of subsidies, CFP money, and NCAA tourney money.
If P4 truly packs their bags, and leaves with all the CFP and majority of NCAA basketball money, the G5 are screwed financially. And yes, I believe if P4 leave they will circle back for the NCAA tournament also. The P4 have more than enough teams and media deals to make march madness an exclusively P4 thing. Everyone else effectively becomes D2 if they do that.