A new and better FBS thread

[BigHorns]

So why would the MW add Northern Illinois as a football only? That's 1 team on an island and 600 miles further east than us. They are the only team in the central time zone, the most valuable for TV time slots

Also Buffalo is in the MAC so I'm not following

Reality is football only is much more likely. Traveling every 2 years in football makes more sense than traveling every year for Olympic sports

It’s a bit more nuanced that this.
1) FBS conferences generally prefer all sports members, partly driven by the requirement for them to have 8 full members or lose status. MW converted Hawaii to full member status for that reason, in spite of additional travel expenses. They revert to a football only member when necessary, usually when it is a unique situation involving longer distances (eg: Hawaii and NIU). Nobody really wants to send 16 sports clear across the US if they can avoid it. Even ACC had to work around things in an unusual manner to make that work.

2) FBS conferences generally try to avoid FCS additions for appearance reasons. The probability of adding a FCS team for football only feels relatively remote. It is more likely that MW would add/upgrade UC Davis before adding another FCS school as football only, given that choice. The parallel would be when the Big East offered to upgrade Villanova to FBS years ago, but Villanova declined.

I think our opportunity will most likely come for full membership in MW, if they lose enough schools to be forced into adding FCS members.

There’s also a chance of MAC adding a western flank/pod, but it probably needs to include more than NDSU. I would guess 2 or 4 dakotas in that scenario.

[HerdBot]

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...ts-negotiation

That's kind of obvious since no team is going to move to the MW without knowing how much they would get from the media rights deal, which expires after this season and the PAC stole most of their valuable TV partners. That's why a similar TV deal was announced by the PAC 12 with their old TV partner

Also, TNT/TRU and the MW opted out of their existing TV deal

Couple that with the poaching fees lawsuit and they may be tight on money for the short term

I anticipate it happening when the lawsuit is won. No reason they should lose it

Then I fully expect us to be in the conversation as a football only. They probably add 2 more teams

If the PAC was smart they would target MW targets right now. They have all the leverage and that's why they are doing a frivolous lawsuit

[MWC]

That's kind of obvious since no team is going to move to the MW without knowing how much they would get from the media rights deal, which expires after this season and the PAC stole most of their valuable TV partners. That's why a similar TV deal was announced by the PAC 12 with their old TV partner

Also, TNT/TRU and the MW opted out of their existing TV deal

Couple that with the poaching fees lawsuit and they may be tight on money for the short term

I anticipate it happening when the lawsuit is won. No reason they should lose it

Then I fully expect us to be in the conversation as a football only. They probably add 2 more teams

If the PAC was smart they would target MW targets right now. They have all the leverage and that's why they are doing a frivolous lawsuit

Actually, all the new schools were added without knowing what the new tv deal would be. At this point it appears that the flagship provider will be Fox. CBS is also in the picture and they are going to announce these along with other providers in two weeks or so.

Gloria addressed this with the Big Mountain and towards the end discussed possible FCS expansion and the reason for the "pause" right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd5XFBeqBuQ

[MWC]

Pertinent stuff starts about 7:35

[HerdBot]

Actually, all the new schools were added without knowing what the new tv deal would be. At this point it appears that the flagship provider will be Fox. CBS is also in the picture and they are going to announce these along with other providers in two weeks or so.

Gloria addressed this with the Big Mountain and towards the end discussed possible FCS expansion and the reason for the "pause" right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd5XFBeqBuQ

Good info. Although we know the Conference USA and WAC teams were getting paid peanuts so it's a guarantee they are going to get more, even if the new media deal is less

And the MAC only paid NIU roughly 2 million so they are in a better spot now

But NDSU signed a 10-year, $21.9 million dollar media rights deal with Learfield back in 2020, that averages out to be 2.19 million.

So it would take a few bucks to sway them

Also the Missouri Valley has a deal with ESPN that gives at least 2 games a year on the big ESPN and it's almost always NDSU and South Dakota State

And the FCS Playoffs are actually great exposure we had 2 hone games on the big ABC last year plus the National championship on ESPN on the Monday Night Football time slot

On a positive note, I doubt the Missouri Valley has a substantial exit fee

[skunkapekiller]

So why would the MW add Northern Illinois as a football only? That's 1 team on an island and 600 miles further east than us. They are the only team in the central time zone, the most valuable for TV time slots

Also Buffalo is in the MAC so I'm not following

Reality is football only is much more likely. Traveling every 2 years in football makes more sense than traveling every year for Olympic sports

why niu? Chicago......

[HerdBot]

why niu? Chicago......

NIU is a solid program and I would love to play them. Being in Chicago had nothing to do with them going to the Mountain West. The fact they are a good brand with years of exposure on MACtion is why. They also reside in the Central Time Zone, something the MW needs for better TV time slots

But NIU is like #27 on Chicago's map with a plummeting enrollment. Using media markets as a measure worked when regional TV deals were a thing but if you want to choose on media market, Denver and Kansas City should be worth a fortune. Oh wait, they are bottom quartile Summit League teams

There is a reason we have a larger current TV deal than all the MAC teams. We are the best brand and people watch. We were rolling MAC teams back in 2006 with a D2 roster

[skunkapekiller]

niu and the phrase "a good brand" don't go hand in hand...
when I said "chicago"....I meant "location"....central time zone, near the 3rd largest city in USA, and expands exposure and recruiting east

[TAILG8R]

The comment she makes about not knowing if the governance rules would/will change in the middle of an FCS team's transition is a non starter. It's just a talking point everyone accepts so she doesn't have to provide any other details or info about why not NDSU (or insert your favorite FCS team) specifically. You can't tell me that an FCS school that applies for and is accepted into transitioning to the FBS wouldn't have that path set in stone and any changes to rules after that point would be for future applications/transitioning schools.

I'm not upset that she's saying it as it makes perfect sense as a way to deflect having to talk details of any kind regarding FCS schools. I just think it's silly anyone would buy that as the actual reason for not adding an FCS program in their last growth cycle. When the time comes and they add an FCS school there will be no talk about being worried of governance changes during their transition.

[MWC]

The comment she makes about not knowing if the governance rules would/will change in the middle of an FCS team's transition is a non starter. It's just a talking point everyone accepts so she doesn't have to provide any other details or info about why not NDSU (or insert your favorite FCS team) specifically. You can't tell me that an FCS school that applies for and is accepted into transitioning to the FBS wouldn't have that path set in stone and any changes to rules after that point would be for future applications/transitioning schools.

I'm not upset that she's saying it as it makes perfect sense as a way to deflect having to talk details of any kind regarding FCS schools. I just think it's silly anyone would buy that as the actual reason for not adding an FCS program in their last growth cycle. When the time comes and they add an FCS school there will be no talk about being worried of governance changes during their transition.

JY is on the governing stuff. Gloria did actually state why they are not looking at FCS schools..The CFP i.e. the P4 doesn't not want any more FCS schools and the MW does not want to get side ways with that bunch. There is no compelling enough reason to go down that road. I personally don't think they are looking to add anybody at this point, anyway.