A new and better FBS thread

[MWC]

https://www.mwcconnection.com/2025/6...ures-additions

Notable quotes ...

"With five departing schools triggering an estimated $100 million in exit fees, the remaining members are poised for a financial windfall. Those funds could support NIL programs, facility upgrades, and staff retention. Combine that with upcoming media rights renegotiations in 2026, and the MWC’s new core has real leverage to boost exposure and revenue."

"The conference now has the opportunity to grow deliberately. Schools like Montana, Montana State, North Dakota State, or UC Davis could bring strong fan bases, football tradition, and geography-friendly options for future membership, helping create a fresh and competitive conference landscape."

No mention of Tarleton, SDSU or Sac State fwiw

The plan from the get go was to add two football only schools in the CST zone. The first invitations went to NIU and Toledo. Toledo does not appear to be interested. The Montanas are in the Mountain time zone. Probably not the add they are looking for because they already have 5 schools in the MST. With Davis in the conference and soon to be transitioning to FBS, Sac State is very unlikely. To me Tarleton seems unlikely. That could leave NDSU in a good spot.

The point to remember, is the MW already has 9 for football and 10 for olympic sports so they really don't have to do anything. Also, the MW and Pac have been negotiating over the exit and poaching fees but there is no guarantee they will settle. If this thing goes to court that will take quite awhile to play out. In that case the MW will almost certainly stand pat.

I would personally favor a NDSU football only invitation but I do wonder if you guys will still be interested in a much different MW than you wanted to join before.

[WhoRepsTheLurker]

The plan from the get go was to add two football only schools in the CST zone. The first invitations went to NIU and Toledo. Toledo does not appear to be interested. The Montanas are in the Mountain time zone. Probably not the add they are looking for because they already have 5 schools in the MST. With Davis in the conference and soon to be transitioning to FBS, Sac State is very unlikely. To me Tarleton seems unlikely. That could leave NDSU in a good spot.

The point to remember, is the MW already has 9 for football and 10 for olympic sports so they really don't have to do anything. Also, the MW and Pac have been negotiating over the exit and poaching fees but there is no guarantee they will settle. If this thing goes to court that will take quite awhile to play out. In that case the MW will almost certainly stand pat.

I would personally favor a NDSU football only invitation but I do wonder if you guys will still be interested in a much different MW than you wanted to join before.

No idea but Big Mountain guys seem to think NDSU would accept immediately. I find it interesting that these guys never bring up SDSU, which tells me they (bunnies) must not be interested

[MWC]

I think the School would accept if offered. I was just wondering how you all personally feel about that possible move. No Boise, CSU or USU any more. Wyoming is the last northern school in what is primarily a southwestern based conference in 2026.

Just speculation on my part but I believe the new tv deal will be around 2.5 per for full members with an 80 percent cut for football only schools. That is around 2.8 million but like no games on ESPN..Fox and CBS with maybe some streaming on Paramount +. Mostly night time starts for football.

If the MW prevails in the poaching and exit fee suits or at least makes out pretty well, UNLV and AFA will get 24.5 percent of the total. NV, NM, SJSU and Wyoming would each get 11 percent. Hawaii, 7%. The represents a significant cash influx for those 7 schools but none of that money would go to UTEP, Davis or GCU. An school added going forward would not get a share of that.

[Kevin]

I think the School would accept if offered. I was just wondering how you all personally feel about that possible move. No Boise, CSU or USU any more. Wyoming is the last northern school in what is primarily a southwestern based conference in 2026.

Just speculation on my part but I believe the new tv deal will be around 2.5 per for full members with an 80 percent cut for football only schools. That is around 2.8 million but like no games on ESPN..Fox and CBS with maybe some streaming on Paramount +. Mostly night time starts for football.

If the MW prevails in the poaching and exit fee suits or at least makes out pretty well, UNLV and AFA will get 24.5 percent of the total. NV, NM, SJSU and Wyoming would each get 11 percent. Hawaii, 7%. The represents a significant cash influx for those 7 schools but none of that money would go to UTEP, Davis or GCU. An school added going forward would not get a share of that.

Leaving the MVFC for the MWC will be a hard decision. No Boise, CSU are big deals especially since we'll be losing the ability to play Murray State, Northern Iowa and Indiana State.

However, when we weigh the pro's they narrowly outweigh the con's.

[TAILG8R]

Talk about MWC expansion always seems to love the idea of the Montanas and I’m not sure why. Is a move even practical for both universities?


*Sent from my iPhone where autocorrect is definitely not my friend*

[MWC]

So..a lot like getting to play SJSU, Nevada, NM and UTEP. I can see how that would tilt the scales.

[ndsubison1]

Leaving the MVFC for the MWC will be a hard decision. No Boise, CSU are big deals especially since we'll be losing the ability to play Murray State, Northern Iowa and Indiana State.

However, when we weigh the pro's they narrowly outweigh the con's.

The portal/NIL stuff is now making me rethink the FBS thing.

[TAILG8R]

The portal/NIL stuff is now making me rethink the FBS thing.

I’m not entirely sure there is much difference for a program like NDSU at the top of the FCS or somewhere within the middle of FBS.

Not being FBS doesn’t protect us from the portal or NIL just as being FBS doesn’t protect us either.

Still gonna lose players, still going to have to have NIL, etc.


*Sent from my iPhone where autocorrect is definitely not my friend*

[WhoRepsTheLurker]

The portal/NIL stuff is now making me rethink the FBS thing.

I thought the whole point of moving up was (i) NDSU has won most of the FCS titles in the last decade or whatever, so it’s sort of obnoxious not to move up if there’s a higher level to play at (ask Sam Herder how he feels lol), and (ii) although Boise/CSU etc are no longer in the conference, playing them would at least be an option in the MWC, and right now it is most certainly not. I have no idea what admin is thinking -- or the major boosters for that matter -- but as recently as a week or so ago AD ML still seemed pretty focused on playing FB at a higher level … I don’t see a P2 split coming

[TAILG8R]

I thought the whole point of moving up was (i) NDSU has won most of the FCS titles in the last decade or whatever, so it’s sort of obnoxious not to move up if there’s a higher level to play at (ask Sam Herder how he feels lol), and (ii) although Boise/CSU etc are no longer in the conference, playing them would at least be an option in the MWC, and right now it is most certainly not. I have no idea what admin is thinking -- or the major boosters for that matter -- but as recently as a week or so ago AD ML still seemed pretty focused on playing FB at a higher level … I don’t see a P2 split coming

Agree on the ML take. His most recent comments are much more clear that NDSU wants to go FBS.


*Sent from my iPhone where autocorrect is definitely not my friend*