C-USA, is it worth it?

[Mikovio]

I get that the non-football schools are upset something like this could upset the apple cart, and it's extremely unlikely to happen anyway.

But you have to understand football is very important to the identity of some of our schools. The level doesn't matter that much. Yes, NDSU has won 8 of the last 10 FCS championships. I think that has led to some resentment from the rest of the FCS, and they tend to take it out on the other schools in the conference by denying at-large bids and under-seeding MVFC schools.

No, we won't get any more respect at the FBS level, but at least we will get paid a little for our trouble. And yes --- I'd definitely go to to the Myrtle Beach Bowl or Quick Lane bowl to watch UNI take on a middling Power 5 school.

Very few bowls match G5s and P5s by design. Sounds like you basically want to be the MAC. How many at large bids do they ever get? None, because they starve basketball to feed the football money pit. Bradley flashed their checkbook and hired a 2X MAC Coach of the Year from Kent State (granted, didn't turn out great but the point is they're a smaller fish). Basketball fans wouldn't be happy for good reason.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with supporting football or enjoying a nice crisp fall Saturday tailgating (or in the MAC, freezing Tuesday nights in November). There are selling points. MACtion games have sparse crowds but are on ESPN2/U. Better chance to upset a P5 team. A Quick Lane Bowl on ESPN. But increased expenses will exceed increased revenues, and that will have repercussions through the rest of your athletic department. The midmajors who hit the jackpot this century either don't have football or de-emphasize it. Gonzaga, Creighton, Wichita, Butler, Loyola. The Valley's model allows for more to be added to the list. Straying from that model would be a huge mistake. If any member wants to chase that Boise dream we should wish them well and keep on keeping on. This can be a perennial top 8 or 10 multibid conference.

[unipanther99]

I'm not saying MVC football schools would follow in the footsteps of Cincinnati, SMU or Houston, but there are examples of schools who can make it work for both sports.

Maybe my math is way off, but I don't see how FBS would be a huge money suck for MVC teams if we jumped together, keep budgets realistic, and schedule smart.

When you look at what C-USA is going to be in the near future, it's hard as a MVC football fan not to look at that and say, we can keep doing what we are doing in basketball and be a better FBS football conference than the hot garbage they are putting together.

[BEARZ77]

I'm not saying MVC football schools would follow in the footsteps of Cincinnati, SMU or Houston, but there are examples of schools who can make it work for both sports.

Maybe my math is way off, but I don't see how FBS would be a huge money suck for MVC teams if we jumped together, keep budgets realistic, and schedule smart.

When you look at what C-USA is going to be in the near future, it's hard as a MVC football fan not to look at that and say, we can keep doing what we are doing in basketball and be a better FBS football conference than the hot garbage they are putting together.

DITTO But it won't happen. My guess is MSU waits on the next wave and hopes for a Sunbelt or AAC realignment opportunity.Of course in a couple years, everything could look different.

[VUGrad1314]

I'm not saying MVC football schools would follow in the footsteps of Cincinnati, SMU or Houston, but there are examples of schools who can make it work for both sports.

Maybe my math is way off, but I don't see how FBS would be a huge money suck for MVC teams if we jumped together, keep budgets realistic, and schedule smart.

When you look at what C-USA is going to be in the near future, it's hard as a MVC football fan not to look at that and say, we can keep doing what we are doing in basketball and be a better FBS football conference than the hot garbage they are putting together.

DITTO But it won't happen. My guess is MSU waits on the next wave and hopes for a Sunbelt or AAC realignment opportunity.Of course in a couple years, everything could look different.

Of course any realignment wave means that the top teams in those leagues the teams that make it such an attractive opportunity in the first place won't be in that conference meaning you're jumping up to join a conference of also-rans. I really believe the AAC made decisions they will live to regret and will be an absolutely terrible conference going forward especially in basketball and is the Sun Belt without its top 2-4 teams really all that attractive?

[BEARZ77]

The thing is, there just won't be anything better to jump to for most teams. Very few teams have anywhere close to the resources to be considered for any openings in a P-5 league after the last few like Boise St, Memphis, SMU get swept up, if they do. So leagues like the AAC, Sunbelt will be made up of the best of the rest of schools playing G-5 FBS or whatever it's called by then. Again, I think that will probably involve a merger of sorts of the top FCS teams and G-5 FBS teams . The P-5's want less teams not more at the top level, so once they're fat and satiated with the 16-20 teams in 4-6 leagues they want, any movement will be lateral for everyone else. So then it'll come down to what are the most sensible partners for your school to be in bed with for the forseeable future. Lets be real, there's a finite # of place settings at the big boys table and it's about full, and they're gonna close the banquet hall doors soon.

[unipanther99]

The thing is, the Power 5 schools still need their 7 home games, and that means access to the G5/FCS schools for buy games. If they totally shut them out, they have to explain why they are playing 5 dates in their half a billion dollar stadiums.

[RacerJoeD]

If they decided not to schedule G5/Fcs games, they can and will fill in from their own ranks. Northwestern, Vandy, and the bottom half of the PAC12 and Acc will be in high demand.

[VUGrad1314]

If they decided not to schedule G5/Fcs games, they can and will fill in from their own ranks. Northwestern, Valpo, and the bottom half of the PAC12 and Acc will be in high demand.

I think you mean Vanderbilt. I wish we could get that sweet buy game cash to get pummeled in football.

[RacerJoeD]

I did. Must have autocorrected. Apologies.

[Mikovio]

The thing is, the Power 5 schools still need their 7 home games, and that means access to the G5/FCS schools for buy games. If they totally shut them out, they have to explain why they are playing 5 dates in their half a billion dollar stadiums.

But the Big Ten solved that problem by playing each other more and reducing noncon games from 4 to 3. And I'd expect other mega-conferences to follow their lead. Results in fewer buy game opportunities for mids who desperately need the cash.

The comparisons to Cincinnati, SMU and Houston are tough. Missouri State and UNI don't have the oil baron donors of SMU and Houston (in some ways, thankfully) and aren't in major metros. If there are any I doubt they pop out of the woodwork by jumping to CUSA. Cincy has an endowment and budgets multiples of all Valley schools. If MSU/UNI make the jump you're far more likely to become Arkansas State or Texas State. If that's what they want, more power to them.