Expansion Thread 2024

[True Bearcat]

Grand Canyon to the Mountain West

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/...-mountain-west

[swilsonsp4]

Seems like Miami has been on the verge of some theoretical NCAA avg. home attendance violation for 20 years. Does that rule even exist anymore?

No. The NCAA changed its eligibility requirements last October, including eliminating the minimum15K attendance rule for FBS schools. The other big change was in the application fee to move up from FCS from $5K to $5M per school.

https://www.texasfootball.com/articl...r-fcs-programs

[Lobot]

The problem is that the MAC is a dying conference. Schools like Eastern Michigan, Kent State, and maybe even Miami U should be playing FCS. The top schools in the league (NIU, Toledo, Buffalo) ideally need to be playing in a different league at least for football to scrape up every dollar possible. However, there is no good geographic fit. For everything that the MAC teams lose in generating revenue, they make up in travel savings. The schools are in a place of comfort that they may never end up leaving.

Seems like Miami has been on the verge of some theoretical NCAA avg. home attendance violation for 20 years. Does that rule even exist anymore?

[Carthage World]

I do not know what the TV revenue is between the MAC and MWC but I do not see this as a good move for NIU and Toledo. The MAC is actually an ideal college conference, it is regional of like-minded schools.

The problem is that the MAC is a dying conference. Schools like Eastern Michigan, Kent State, and maybe even Miami U should be playing FCS. The top schools in the league (NIU, Toledo, Buffalo) ideally need to be playing in a different league at least for football to scrape up every dollar possible. However, there is no good geographic fit. For everything that the MAC teams lose in generating revenue, they make up in travel savings. The schools are in a place of comfort that they may never end up leaving.

[bearcatbret]

I do not know what the TV revenue is between the MAC and MWC but I do not see this as a good move for NIU and Toledo. The MAC is actually an ideal college conference, it is regional of like-minded schools.

[swilsonsp4]

Hawai'i will leave the Big West and join the Mountain West for all sports. Football was already there so this is mostly olympic sports

While this move brings the MWC to 8 full-time schools (once 5 schools leave & UTEP comes aboard), the conference is talking once again to NIU & Toledo.

[Lobot]

Hawai'i will leave the Big West and join the Mountain West for all sports. Football was already there so this is mostly olympic sports

[Lobot]

The 72 Team Super League stuff is going south really fast. Look at who's involved with this concept. There's more on it at the Athletic from Stewart Mandel and co. if you're subscribed there.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsl..._medium=social

[bearcatbret]

Official. Gonzaga is entering in all sports. (!!)

I guess that it is a move up, at least financially. Gonzaga was its league’s top dog for years. Will a Pac-12 move force a change in tactics? - The Athletic (nytimes.com)

[Lobot]

UTEP to the Mountain West announcement coming later today. UTEP had been in CUSA for 20 years. This shows you how long it's been since UC was in CUSA because we were never in the league at the same time as UTEP.

Now official from the conference.

[Lobot]

UTEP to the Mountain West announcement coming later today. UTEP had been in CUSA for 20 years. This shows you how long it's been since UC was in CUSA because we were never in the league at the same time as UTEP.

[Lobot]

Official. Gonzaga is entering in all sports. (!!)

[Lobot]

Gonzaga on the verge of joining the Pac-12 today (via ESPN)

Oh, and UTEP to the Mountain West (saw it first from Chris Vannini of The Athletic)

Matt Norlander is reporting Gonzaga the PAC will join on July 1, 2026. Official announcement pending.

[Lobot]

Didn't Scott Bakula play a 30 something quarterback for Texas State in Necessary Roughness where a woman soccer player kicked field goals? How Texas State has grown since 1991.

Since it's October now we'll call him Count Bakula. He did in fact do that but the name of the school was used in the movie was before the university itself changed it's name to Texas State. Bet you always wanted to know that.

[GoBearcats31]

Gonzaga will be off to the Pac-12 per Brett McMurphy

Gonzaga on the verge of joining the Pac-12 today (via ESPN)

Oh, and UTEP to the Mountain West (saw it first from Chris Vannini of The Athletic)