(non-MVC) Realignment News

[VUGrad1314]

I root for the FCS teams in money games too. I think it's funny when the FBS teams lose. It's like a P5 team losing a buy game to some lowly school. Appalachian State's victory over Michigan remains one of my all time favorite football memories. Honestly, the fact that UNI spends so much money on FBS makes what they do in basketball so much more impressive. That goes for the MVC too. The fact that this conference is so good at basketball despite having half its teams feeding that money pit is amazing. I feel like we could be better than the A10 if we had no football BUT as you said alumni giving and engagement would be down which would hurt budgets and that is definitely something to consider.

UNI's in a weird spot with the football. If we stopped playing it our donations would crater and we'd be D2 quick but everybody is coming around to the fact that we're a basketball school at this point.

Weird dichotomy. Its pretty amazing that we're as competitive in our 5 major sports (FB, MBB, WBB, VB and Wrestling) as we are considering what the state expects of us budget wise (we're treated on par with Iowa and Iowa State rather than our peers). We're incredibly lucky to have 5 coaches that work for under market value to stay here because they love the UNI community.

Honestly everyone is a basketball school in FCS until NDSU goes FBS like they really should.

[BCPanther]

BYU signs big deal with ESPN possibly jeopardizing AAC expansion plans though I still think they can get Boise State and or other MWC school(s) who seem very upset with the current situation.

I would think New Mexico or Colorado State would jump at that opportunity.

Frankly, if New Mexico would go, it opens a spot in the Mountain West for New Mexico State and solves a whole lot of problems for a whole lot of people.

[VUGrad1314]

I'd be very curious to see what happens to the WAC if and when New Mexico State finds a home.

[Herd]

The people talking down FCS football need to understand that there is very little difference in the quality of Football between the FCS MVFC and the FBS MAC. Look at the Sagarin ratings. There have been years that the MVFC has been ranked higher. If you think of the FBS label in the MAC, Sunbelt, CUSA somehow makes you relevant, you’re an idiot. At the top of the FBS G5, there’s no championship and little to play for. You play 1, maybe 2 P5 teams annually, about the same as any FCS team and your hope is a 20-25 ranking and a 2nd tier bowl. If you think the MVFC isn’t on a competitive level with the MAC, CUSA and Sunbelt you are mistaken. If you think an NDSU doesn’t win all those conferences regularly, your out to lunch.

[RacerJoeD]

I don’t think anyone is “talking down” fcs football, merely pointing out that generally speaking theAmerican audience doesn’t really follow it or care about it, and because of that can be seen as a poor investment for a university when compared to D1 basketball. And I use the word investment carefully, as most university funds are finite, sports aren’t the primary purpose of universities, but sports are a fantastic marketing tool for universities therefore putting money into marketing channels that actually see returns is better than putting resources into something that doesn’t.

[Herd]

I don’t think anyone is “talking down” fcs football, merely pointing out that generally speaking theAmerican audience doesn’t really follow it or care about it, and because of that can be seen as a poor investment for a university when compared to D1 basketball. And I use the word investment carefully, as most university funds are finite, sports aren’t the primary purpose of universities, but sports are a fantastic marketing tool for universities therefore putting money into marketing channels that actually see returns is better than putting resources into something that doesn’t.

And they care about the MAC, SBC and CUSA football? And they care about MVC basketball? No and No, they don’t. The fans from those conferences care. I don’t see it on sports center unless it’s playoff time.

I love Summit League basketball, Which most B1G fans likely can’t distinguish from MVC basketball. UNI is one of the best in MVC BB, and football no doubt helps it’s brand, especially in its home state.

[mvfcfan]

To be fair when I go to Arch Madness every year it amazes me that almost everyone leaves after their team is done playing and they don't stick around for the next game or session. I think schools in the MVC overall have larger fan bases than most other mid majors but that's about it. No one cares nationally and a lot of people that are fans of MVC schools don't really care that much about the rest of the league.

Also to be honest no one in FBS cares about anything other than the CFP. Everything else is irrelevant. Frankly I would rather be in the FCS playoffs than some no name bowl.

[Herd]

To be fair when I go to Arch Madness every year it amazes me that almost everyone leaves after their team is done playing and they don't stick around for the next game or session. I think schools in the MVC overall have larger fan bases than most other mid majors but that's about it. No one cares nationally and a lot of people that are fans of MVC schools don't really care that much about the rest of the league.

Also to be honest no one in FBS cares about anything other than the CFP. Everything else is irrelevant. Frankly I would rather be in the FCS playoffs than some no name bowl.

Frankly, if the FBS playoff went to 16 teams and every conference had an avenue to get there, it would be really positive for college FB in general, and would be reason to be an FBS G5 team. I’d then strongly support being in an FBS G5 conference.

[RacerJoeD]

You’re describing a less inclusive, more expensive college basketball type format

[VUGrad1314]

North Carolina A&T Leaving MEAC for Big South.

https://www.greensboro.com/sports/colle ... Qf5OmbQw#2