Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[VUGrad1314]

Would love an alliance with the WCC A10 MWC and maybe CUSA as well. I'm not sure how realistic that is though especially with the A10. MWC already had an agreement with us and then ended it to join the A10 (is that still on or not?) The top of the WCC might not be interested if for not other reason other than travel. CUSA might be the only realistic target but I do think we mid major conferences need to work together more in order to create more opportunities for all of us.

[goramblers2011]

There'd be some fun matchups with the WCC.

[squirrel]

The MWC/A-10 just launched their own thing. I don't know how receptive the WCC would be to a MVC challenge.

But I would jump at a series or challenge with the new-look WAC right now:

NMSU (former Valley member)
Grand Canyon
Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston St
Abilene Christian
Seattle (while not good, a historic power program that many Valley fans would enjoy seeing)
Cal Baptist (killing it so far in DI)

etc.

Most of those teams would be great matchups for Valley teams.

[TOPSTRAIGHT]

I think a scheduling alliance would be an excellent move. The problem is getting another conference to agree.

On the subject of expansion the current events (BIG 12, etc.) have changed everything. There may not be a domino effect to some conferences or there could be a really large shake up. The best strategy would be to wait, plan, and watch closely. Be ready to act quickly. Adding two makes sense-- But what if you add two now and in 2024 or '25 two better options come along. Maybe an orphaned AAC team or a team from the C-USA or SBC who has been left out of some merger and would go Indy in Football. How about Tulsa and Murray?? That is just one example. If there is a LARGE shakeup then there could be a few pretty good options. WKU and Murray? If the POWER 4 decide to leave the NCAA then all kinds of crazy things could happen. Wait a little longer.

[VUGrad1314]

I get the argument for waiting but I don't know if it would result in anything better for the MVC than what we're currently looking at as options. I don't see the autonomous conferences breaking away from the NCAA I still think that relationship is still too mutually beneficial for it to end. I think if Tulsa gets left out of the shuffle the can and will receive a life raft to the MWC which would still be far better than trying to make a go at independence (I think Tulsa had the chance to join the MWC when they opted for the BIg East\AAC and I can't see how they've done anything to jeopardize that relationship. I also can't see WKU surviving as an independent nor do I think it is likely that they will be affected by this shakeup. If somehow they lose their current home I could absolutely see them taking a MAC invite. I'd love to be wrong because the stronger the MVC is the better but I think our best options whenever the time comes are going to be Murray State and Belmont and there's nothing whatsoever wrong with that in my eyes. Right now the best thing we could do for ourselves is have a great year and do our best to repeat or even improve on last year's performance. I think two consecutive years of multiple bids with teams winning in March would really get the attention of potential expansion candidates.

The PAC 12 has opted today not to pursue expansion taking away the greatest hope that many of the remaining Big XII members had of finding a new home. I guess there's still some hope that the Big 10 decides to add 1 or 2 right now but I find that pretty unlikely. I think they're holding out for Notre Dame. I think the most likely scenario is that the remaining eight of the Big XII remain together and pick off whoever they want from the AAC whether that's 2 4 or 6. (BYU is a possibility but I'm not sure if they would be willing to join considering that the Big XII may not have autonomous status in the new landscape given the gap between them and the other four leagues.) Let's say the AAC loses four to the Big XII and let's say it's Cincinnati Houston UCF and either Memphis or USF. I don't see how any remaining AAC school would find their current situation preferable to joining the MWC. Any school that could get an invite (presumably SMU Tulsa Wichita State maybe even Tulane but that's stretching the footprint quite a bit) would probably view conferencing with the likes of San Diego State Boise State Utah State Fresno State etc. preferable to adding from the top of CUSA or the Sun Belt. Even if many of those potential adds (North Texas Rice UAB Western Kentucky Georgia State Appalachian State Louisiana-Lafayette etc.) make geographic sense for their footprint many of these schools are schools the previous league of many AAC teams (CUSA) had to backfill with to survive. I'm just not sure if any left behind AAC teams would be too keen on conferencing with schools that took their old spots when they moved up. Schools don't often return to conferences they have left previously, I realize that realignment moves of this magnitude can create some unprecedented situations but I still find it unlikely that anyone with any other potential opportunity would choose to return to a former league.

As for the WAC challenge idea I don't hate it but I'm not sure if that's quite a peer league for us. Maybe I'm being elitist but I feel like home and homes with WAC teams even in the conference's new improved state are a better way forward than an outright challenge.

[MVC Phil]

The A10/MW challenge year 1 was cancelled last year and they decided early on (March/April) to cancel it again this year.

Sounds like some schools in the A10 are not thrilled with the agreement and scheduling terms.

So it is a 50/50 chance it will be back next year.

Top A10 teams have been willing to schedule MVC games in some cases home and homes -- Richmond, St. Louis, Dayton, VCU, St Bona.

A yearly early season event similar to Holiday Hoopsgiving, should take the top 4 teams previous year from the WCC, A10, MVC and MW and play a 4 game a day per location schedule maybe one set of games in Las Vegas and one in St Louis.

The next year maybe 1 set in Denver and one in Philadelphia. Creating some type of rotation so each conference has something in there footprint.

This way you can still have a MTE event plus this event and it helps the OOC scheduling

[Kyle_Saluki_17]

Rumors are that Houston, Cincinatti, and Central Florida from the AAC are all in discussions with the Big 12. This would basically blow up the AAC I feel like, leaving few good teams left. I wonder if the remaining teams (such as Wichita State) would be begging to go to other places or if the AAC will successfully pluck teams from other conferences, such as the MVC. Could be big news here.

There are multiple articles out there, but here is one of them.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb ... d=msedgntp

[BCPanther]

Rumors are that Houston, Cincinatti, and Central Florida from the AAC are all in discussions with the Big 12. This would basically blow up the AAC I feel like, leaving few good teams left. I wonder if the remaining teams (such as Wichita State) would be begging to go to other places or if the AAC will successfully pluck teams from other conferences, such as the MVC. Could be big news here.

There are multiple articles out there, but here is one of them.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb ... d=msedgntp

If true the AAC is dead and Memphis is on an absolute island.

Nobody in CUSA really fits their institutional profile and there's nobody out there that you'd consider a slam dunk to keep them at the 'just below the Power league' level. Charlotte, North Texas and Western Kentucky ain't it.

I think it also says that there really is no value in what's left of the Big 12. Kansas basketball is incredibly valuable but is it worth taking a football program that couldn't compete in the MVFC?

[Kyle_Saluki_17]

Kansas has football? lol

[BCPanther]

Kansas has football? lol

I mean, nobody there really knows either...